- Date
- June 5, 1991, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place
- Mineral, IL
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N91MGRobinson R22B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 31, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19910605020369A
- Case key
- 14825
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Failure of the pilot to maintain clearance from the power line.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
A commerical pilot applying chemical spray to a corn field reversed course for a downwind pass. A power line bordered the near end of the field and the pilot attempted to drop just over the line to commence the run. The tail rotor struck the power line, shearing both tail rotor blades close to the hub. The pilot reduced power and continued the descent to a hard landing with no torque control.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N91MG
- Reported as
- Robinson R22B
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 1725
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Darrell L. Marquis
- Registered owner
- Marquis Grain Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Departed
- NONE · Buda, IL
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 35
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 618 total · 480 in this make and model · 510 as pilot in command · 80 in the last 90 days · 55 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 80° at 10 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.