- Date
- June 23, 1994, 11:55 local (16:55 UTC)
- Place
- Watertown, SD
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N330CWHiller HU-12E
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 14, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940623017109A
- Case key
- 9560
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
the pilot's failure to maintain a visual lookout. A factor associated with the accident was the powerlines.
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
While maneuvering during aerial application the helicopter impacted a transmission wire and the terrain. A subsequent examination of the helicopter revealed no pre-existent anomalies. Post mortem examination of the pilot revealed no physical impairment and toxicological examination of specimens from pilot were negative for drugs screened.
Factual narrative
On June 23, 1994, at 1155 central daylight time, a Hiller HU-12E, N330CW, registered to Emerald Helicopters, Inc., of Olivia, Minnesota, and piloted by a commercial helicopter pilot, experienced a wire strike and impact with the terrain while maneuvering during aerial application. The helicopter was destroyed and the pilot sustained fatal injuries. The 14 CFR Part 137 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was on file. The exact location of the departure and time of departure are unknown.
The helicopter was involved in aerial application. A witness described hearing a "snap" followed by a noise that sounded like "thunder" and saw flames 30 feet high.
An examination of the wreckage area revealed small pieces identified as being from the helicopter under nearby electrical transmission wires. No pre-existent mechanical anomalies were found on examination of the helicopter. There was no evidence of fire prior to impact with the terrain.
A post mortem examination completed by the Department of Pathology, Prairie Lakes Health Care Center, Watertown, South Dakota, of the pilot revealed no pre-existing anomalies. The toxicological examination of specimens from the pilot were negative for ethanol and the drugs screened.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N330CW
- Reported as
- Hiller HU-12E
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- HA3064
- Airframe hours
- 4,363
- Engine
- Lycoming VO-540-C2A, 305 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- Emerald Helicopters, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 2, 1994 · 45 hours before
- Destination
- NONE
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
- 25
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 1,100 total · 215 in this make and model · 990 as pilot in command · 5 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days · 10 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 330° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 8,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- ATY
Docket · 4
The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 5, 1995, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 454 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.