- Date
- March 8, 2007, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place
- Davenport, VA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N226RWSud SE3130 Alouette II
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 29, 2007
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20070308014669A
- Case key
- 65394
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 inadequate visual lookout, which resulted in an in flight collision with utility wires during takeoff, and a subsequent impact with terrain.
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
The pilot was flying pipeline patrol in a helicopter, while the copilot monitored the pipeline on a laptop computer. During the patrol, the laptop computer malfunctioned, and the pilot landed in a field while the copilot attempted to repair the laptop computer. After the laptop computer was repaired, the pilot hover taxied to the end of the field, and began a takeoff run. During the takeoff run, at an altitude of 40 feet and airspeed of 30 to 40 knots, the helicopter struck utility wires. The helicopter subsequently impacted a field and came to rest on its right side. The pilot did not report any preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the helicopter.
Factual narrative
The pilot of an Alouette II helicopter stated that he was flying a pipeline patrol, while the copilot monitored the pipeline on a laptop computer. During the patrol, the laptop computer malfunctioned, and the pilot landed in a field while the copilot attempted to repair the laptop computer. After the laptop computer was repaired, the pilot hover taxied to the end of the field, and began a takeoff run. During the takeoff run, at an altitude of 40 feet and airspeed of 30 to 40 knots, the helicopter struck utility wires. The helicopter subsequently impacted a field and came to rest on its right side. During the impact, the helicopter sustained substantial damage. The pilot did not report any preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the helicopter.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N226RW
- Reported as
- Sud SE3130 Alouette II
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 1868
- Engine
- Turbomeca Artouste II, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation · Part 91
- Operator
- Marpat Aviation
- Registered owner
- Mikes Contracting LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- 6V3 · Richlands, VA
- Destination
- LNP · Wise, VA
- Airport
- 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
- 35
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2
- Flight hours
- 595 total · 270 in this make and model · 505 as pilot in command · 95 in the last 90 days · 37 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 340° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 61 °F, dew point 14 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.12 inHg
- Observed at
- LNP, 15 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.