# NTSB ERA10LA348: Robinson Helicopter R44, N857PM, Marion, KY, July 5, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 5, 2010, 17:45 local (22:45 UTC) - Place: Marion, KY - Coordinates: 37.185276, -88.136108 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.1853&lon=-88.1361&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report November 29, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 76520 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10LA348 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76520/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76520 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10LA348 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power lines during an aerial application flight. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) ## Analysis A witness observed the helicopter depart and begin aerial spray operations in a corn field. He turned away and heard a loud “pop,” then turned around to see the helicopter collide with a power line guy wire and the ground before bursting in flames. A postaccident examination of the airframe, flight controls, engine assembly, and accessories revealed no anomalies. ## Factual narrative On July 5, 2010, at 1745 central daylight time, a Robinson R-44, N857PM, collided with a guy wire near Marion, Kentucky. The certificated commercial pilot was fatally injured. The helicopter came to rest in a field and was substantially damaged by post crash fire. The helicopter was registered to and operated by Forest Tech LLC., under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed the private strip at 1743. According to a witness, the pilot was conducting an aerial spray operation in a corn field. He observed the helicopter take off and fly to the edge of the field to begin an aerial application run. The witness turned around and heard a loud “pop”. He turned back around and observed the helicopter collide with a power line guy wire and the ground before bursting in flames. The pilot, age 55, held a commercial pilot certificate for rotorcraft helicopter issued on March 6, 2009, and a second-class medical certificate issued on September 17, 2009, with the limitation, must wear lenses for distant vision and have glasses for near vision. A review of the pilot's logbook by the FAA revealed the pilot logged 532.9 hours in type. The pilot logged 611.3 total flight hours of which 190.1 hours were aerial application. The pilot had flown 28 hours within the last 90 days. The four-seat, skid equipped helicopter, serial number 1034 was manufactured in 2001. It was powered by a Lycoming O-540, 250-horsepower engine. A review of the helicopters logbooks by the FAA revealed the last annual inspection was conducted on May 14, 2010, at a recorded tachometer time of 1404.8 hours. The hour meter and tachometer were destroyed by post crash fire and the current airframe hours could not be determined. Examination of the crash site revealed the helicopter impacted the top ground cable of a high voltage power line about 35 feet 6 inches above ground level. The top cable separated and exhibited fracture signatures consistent with an overload failure. The lower cable was also contacted but did not break. The wreckage path extended approximately 75 feet and was oriented on a heading of 275 degrees magnetic. The main section of the wreckage was located about 100 feet beyond the initial impact. The longitudinal axis of the helicopter was oriented about 310 degrees magnetic. The cockpit, main cabin and engine area were consumed by fire. The main rotor blades, engine, landing gear skids, tail boom and rotor section were accounted for. Both main rotor blades were damaged and exhibited cable scarring on the rotor blades. The main rotor blades separated from the mast outboard of the mast attachment points. The main rotor pitch change links were present and the main rotor mast exhibited cable scarring. The tail boom aft of the fuselage and the tail rotor assembly was not damaged. The tail rotor drive shaft was separated at the forwardattachment coupling. The coupling was not damaged and was fire damaged. Tail rotor drive shaft continuity was established from the forward attachment coupling to the tail rotor assembly. Examination of the engine revealed the engine was fire damaged and remained attached to the engine mounts. All external hoses, lines and V-belts were fire damaged. The magnetos were fire damaged. The engine was partially disassembled. The top and bottom ignition harness were fire damaged. The top and bottom spark plugs were removed and exhibited light gray combustion deposits. The engine was rotated by hand, and compression and suction was obtained at all cylinders. The rocker arms and valves moved when the crankshaft was rotated. Valve train continuity was obtained throughout the engine. The oil filter was removed, opened, and was free of contaminants. The oil screen was removed and was free of contaminants. The fuel system and ignition system was not tested due to fire damage. An autopsy was performed on the pilot on July 6, 2010, by the Western Kentucky Regional Examiner’s Office, Madisonville, Kentucky. The cause of death was multiple blunt force injuries. The Federal Aviation Administration Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory, performed toxicology testing on specimens from the pilot. No carbon monoxide or cyanide was detected in the blood, and no ethanol was detected in the vitreous. Azacylonol was detected in urine but was not detected in the heart. Diphenhydramine 0.032 (ug/ml, ug/g) was detected in the blood but was not detected in the urine. Ibuprofen was detected in the urine. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N857PM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N857PM-2011-12-19), registration cancelled 2011-12-19, S/N 1034, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44 - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R44](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44) (registry code 7640120) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 1034 - Airframe hours: 1404 - Engines: LYCOMING O-540 SERIES 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Forest Tech LLC - Registered owner: Forest Tech LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 14, 2010 - Departed: Marion, KY - Destination: Marion, KY ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: fatal; commercial; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 17, 2009; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 611 total, 533 in this make and model, 28 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: PAH, 35 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 20100705039329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100705039329A), Jul 5, 2010: Robinson He R44, Marion, KY, Destroyed, 1 fatal. On July 5, 2010, at 5:45 p.m. (1745 zulu), central daylight time, Robinson N857PM, R-44 was destroyed when it impacted terrain after contacting power lines… ## Docket (12 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 24, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76520. 9.7 MB in all. - Reports from Federal Agencies-FAA Observation Statement (item 1, .PDF, 35 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353224&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Federal%20Agencies-FAA%20Observation%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statement 1 (item 2, .PDF, 191 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353226&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement%201-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statement 2 (item 3, .PDF, 134 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353229&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement%202-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statement 3 (item 4, .PDF, 170 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353467&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement%203-Redacted.PDF - Other Pertinent Forms and Reports-Airplane Logbook pages (item 5, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353240&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports-Airplane%20Logbook%20pages-Redacted.PDF - Other Pertinent Forms and Reports-Engine Logbook pages (item 6, .PDF, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353244&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports-Engine%20Logbook%20pages-Redacted.PDF - Toxicological Report (item 7, .PDF, 50 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353468&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Toxicological%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1-FAA photo -broken powerline (item 8, .PDF, 401 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353250&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201-FAA%20photo%20-broken%20powerline-Master.PDF - Photo 2-FAA photo-frayed powerline (item 9, .PDF, 903 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353251&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202-FAA%20photo-frayed%20powerline-Master.PDF - Photo 3-FAA photo- Main wreckage in cornfield (item 10, .PDF, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353252&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203-FAA%20photo-%20Main%20wreckage%20in%20cornfield-Master.PDF - Photo 4-FAA photo- main rotor blade displaying powerline cable marks (item 11, .PDF, 757 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353253&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204-FAA%20photo-%20main%20rotor%20blade%20displaying%20powerline%20cable%20marks-Master.PDF - Photo 5-FAA photo- Powerline across field during evening hours (item 12, .PDF, 696 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353254&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%205-FAA%20photo-%20Powerline%20across%20field%20during%20evening%20hours-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.