- Date
- May 31, 2014, 10:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place
- San Manuel, AZ
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N7122ERobinson Helicopter R22 Beta
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 24, 2014
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20140531007139A
- Case key
- 89321
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 an adequate obstacle clearance altitude from phone wires while performing low-level operations.
Findings · 3
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 stated that the purpose of the flight was to conduct low-level aerial operations for cattle herding. The pilot maneuvered the helicopter in an effort to keep the cattle close together and did not notice a phone line in the helicopter's flight path. The main rotor blades contacted the lines and they became entangled in the main rotor head. The helicopter descended from approximately 15 feet above ground level and impacted the terrain hard, collapsing the skids. As a result of the impact, the helicopter sustained substantial damage to both the tail and main rotor blades. The pilot reported no pre impact mechanical malfunctions or failure with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot stated that the purpose of the flight was to conduct low-level aerial operations for cattle herding. The pilot maneuvered the helicopter in an effort to keep the cattle close together and did not notice a phone line in the helicopter's flight path. The main rotor blades contacted the lines and they became entangled in the main rotor head. The helicopter descended from approximately 15 feet above ground level and impacted the terrain hard, collapsing the skids. As a result of the impact, the helicopter sustained substantial damage to both the tail and main rotor blades. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failure with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7122E
- Reported as
- Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta (BETA)
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 2909
- Built
- 1999
- Airframe hours
- 1,928
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-J2A, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation · Part 91
- Operator
- Mastopietro Kurt I, doing business as KMB Helicopters LLC
- Registered owner
- Mastopietro Kurt I
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 2, 2013
- Departed
- San Manuel, AZ
- Destination
- San Manuel, AZ
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 61
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, Unknown
- Last flight review
- July 7, 2013
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 5,058 total · 4,085 in this make and model · 4,878 as pilot in command · 66 in the last 90 days · 43 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Observed at
- KDMA, 32 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 2, 2014, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.5 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.