- Date
- June 27, 2014, 16:15 local (23:15 UTC)
- Place
- Quincy, WA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N560LHRobinson Helicopter R44 II
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 22, 2015
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20140627010149A
- Case key
- 89556
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 a wind generator tower while drying cherries, which resulted in a loss of aircraft control and subsequent hard landing.
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 reported that while drying cherries, he inadvertently let the main rotor blades strike a wind generator tower. The helicopter became uncontrollable, hit the ground hard, and came to rest in the orchard. The main rotor blades and airframe sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that while drying cherries, he inadvertently let the main rotor blades strike a wind generator tower. The helicopter became uncontrollable, hit the ground hard, and came to rest in the orchard. The main rotor blades and airframe sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N560LH
- Reported as
- Robinson Helicopter R44 II
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 10036
- Built
- 2003
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-540 SER, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work use · Part 91
- Operator
- Vertical Ascent LLC
- Registered owner
- Vertical Ascent LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- Quincy, WA
- Destination
- Quincy, WA
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
- 51
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Private, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- November 1, 2013
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 1,835 total · 718 in this make and model · 69 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 220° at 9 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.70 inHg
- Observed at
- KEPH, 17 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 9, 2015, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 56 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.