- Date
- January 3, 2019, 10:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place
- Grace, ID
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N4246ZRobinson R44
- Defining event
- Maneuvering: 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
- 20190103000089A
- Case key
- 98853
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 clearance from the power lines.
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, shortly after liftoff to the north from his property, he saw coyote tracks and "wanted to inspect." To better observe the coyote, he maneuvered at a low altitude, which led him to cross over a power line. After crossing the power line for a third time, he spotted the coyote, turned left, diverted his attention from the power line, continued to turn left, and the main rotor blades struck the power line. He maintained control of the helicopter and landed without further incident. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor blades. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The helicopter pilot reported that shortly after liftoff to the north from his property, he observed coyote tracks and "wanted to inspect." To better observe the coyote, he maneuvered at a low altitude which led him to cross over a powerline. After crossing the powerline for a third time, he spotted the coyote, turned left, took his attention off the power line, continued to turn left and the main rotor blades struck the powerline. He maintained control of the helicopter and landed without further incident. A post accident examination revealed the helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor blades. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4246Z
- Reported as
- Robinson R44 (II)
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 12697
- Built
- 2009
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- Grace, ID
- Destination
- Grace, ID
- Equipment
- Unknown
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
- 57
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- December 5, 2018
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 1,411 total · 143 in this make and model · 1,411 as pilot in command · 1 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 350° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- -0 °F, dew point -6 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.30 inHg
- Observed at
- KU78, 12 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 12, 2019, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.7 MB 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.
Other investigations on N4246Z · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.