- Date
- July 27, 2018, 18:10 local (23:10 UTC)
- Place
- Elma, IA
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N466ELRobinson R44
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 26, 2019
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20180727018089A
- Case key
- 97934
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 maintain clearance from power lines during an agricultural application flight.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The helicopter pilot reported that, during a high reconnaissance of a field intended for agricultural application, he saw power lines to the north with lines running northwest to southeast. He then started the application on the southwest corner of the field, and while flying west to east, he saw another set of power lines crossing the southeastern corner of the field. About 14 ft above the ground, the main rotor blades impacted the lines, after which the helicopter pitched aft and then impacted the ground. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and main rotor blades. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The helicopter pilot reported that, during a high reconnaissance of a field intended for aerial application, he saw power lines to the north, with wires running northwest to southeast. He then started the application on the southwest corner of the field, and while flying west to east, he saw another set of wires crossing the southeastern corner of the field. About 14 feet above the ground, the main rotor blades impacted the wire, the helicopter pitched aft, then broke free of the wires and impacted the ground. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and main rotor blades. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N466EL
- Reported as
- Robinson R44 (II)
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 10732
- Built
- 2005
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5, 245 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Airbourn Aviation
- Registered owner
- Midwest Airspray Llc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Equipment
- Handheld GPS
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
- 43
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 21, 2018
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 1,169 total · 240 in this make and model · 1,100 as pilot in command · 159 in the last 90 days · 159 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 300° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 73 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.11 inHg
- Observed at
- KCCY, 19 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 29, 2019, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 293 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.