# NTSB CHI90LA073: Bell 222, N828WA, Middleville, MI, January 30, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 30, 1990, 10:10 local (15:10 UTC)
- Place: Middleville, MI
- Coordinates: 42.710018, -85.4607 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7100&lon=-85.4607&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 5, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14625
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI90LA073
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14625/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI90LA073

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE AND CLEARANCE FROM THE TV TOWER. THE TV TOWER (GUY WIRE) WAS A RELATED FACTOR.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with object, cruise - normal
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - guy wire (contributing factor)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT THE HELICOPTER WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 1,500 FEET MSL (500 TO 600 FEET AGL) ON A REPOSITIONING FLIGHT, WHEN IT STRUCK A GUY WIRE ON A 1,060 FOOT HIGH TV TOWER. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE SEVERED THE WIRE/CABLE, AND THE PILOT PERFORMED AN EMERGENCY DESCENT TO A FORCED LANDING IN A NEARBY FIELD. THE PILOT TOLD THE STATE POLICE THAT THE HELICOPTER WAS ON AUTOPILOT, AND 'HE WAS CHECKING HIS LOG (AND PAPERS) AND VARIOUS INSTRUMENTS IN THE COCKPIT . . . HAPPENED TO LOOK UP JUST PRIOR TO STRIKING THE CABLE.' A REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE OWNERS OF THE TV TOWER REPORTED THAT IT WAS MARKED (PAINTED, LIT, ETC.) IN ACCORDANCE WITH FAA REGULATIONS. THE PILOT'S LOGBOOK RECORDS INDICATED A TOTAL FLIGHT TIME OF 10,434 HOURS, OF WHICH 9,549 HOURS WERE ACCUMULATED IN ROTORCRAFT (INCLUDING 91 HOURS IN THE ACCIDENT MAKE AND MODEL AIRCRAFT).

## Aircraft

- Registration: N828WA (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 222
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 47086
- Airframe hours: 1588
- Engines: LYCOMING LTS-101-650C 650 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Operator: Mcmahon Helicopters Services
- Registered owner: J.W. Leasing
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 8, 1989, 80 hours before
- Departed: C19, HOLLAND, MI
- Destination: 1D2, CANTON, MI

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 10,434 total, 91 in this make and model, 10,400 as pilot in command, 58 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 9,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: GRR, 11 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19900130001349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900130001349A), Jan 30, 1990: Bell 222, Middleville, MI, Substantial damage. Struck guy wires of a 1060 foot AGL tv tower at 600 feet AGL. Autorotated to a hard landing.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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