- Date
- March 24, 2009, 06:39 local (13:39 UTC)
- Place
- Chowchilla, CA
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N139RJRobinson Helicopter R22 Beta
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dawn
- Status
- Completed · report June 11, 2009
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration FSDO
- FAA report
- 20090324003159A
- Case key
- 73545
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 pilot of the helicopter was flying over an agricultural field at dawn performing frost control. He flew three passes over the field at a low altitude in order to distribute warm air onto the crops. During the passes, he observed power lines in the vicinity. On the fourth pass he descended to about 50 feet agl and lost sight of the power lines. Concerned that he may collide with them, he began to turn right. Halfway through the turn the main rotor blades struck the power lines. The helicopter descended to the ground, sustaining substantial damage to the fuselage and rotor system. The pilot said that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures.
Factual narrative
The pilot of the helicopter was flying over an agricultural field at dawn performing frost control. He flew three passes over the field at a low altitude in order to distribute warm air onto the crops. During the passes, he observed power lines in the vicinity. On the fourth pass he descended to about 50 feet agl and lost sight of the power lines. Concerned that he may collide with them, he began to turn right. Halfway through the turn the main rotor blades stuck the power lines. The helicopter descended to the ground, sustaining substantial damage to the fuselage and rotor system. The pilot said there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N139RJ
- Reported as
- Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 1683
- Airframe hours
- 8,177
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work use · Part 91
- Operator
- American Helicopters
- Registered owner
- Premier Helicopter LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 2, 2008 · 30 hours before
- Departed
- FCH · Fresno, CA
- Destination
- Chowchilla, CA
- Airport
- 2O6 · Chowchilla
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
- 32
- Injuries
- Serious
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 28, 2008
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 1,237 total · 1,019 in this make and model · 1,188 as pilot in command · 106 in the last 90 days · 49 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dawn
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 37 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MAE, 10 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 22, 2009, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 596 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.