Pilot Debrief

ROBINSON HELICOPTER CO R66 near Merry, NE — 2021-07-30

Final reportCEN21LA348
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Date
2021-07-30
Location
Merry, NE, USA
Aircraft
ROBINSON HELICOPTER CO R66
Registration
N857TL
Category
Helicopter
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a wire during a low-level aerial application flight.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that while cresting a hill at the end of a field during an aerial application pass, the helicopter’s skids struck power lines and subsequently impacted terrain. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, tail boom, and rotors. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operations. The pilot reported that the aerial application pass was over rolling hills with terrain elevation changes of about 300 ft. and that could not see the end of the field where the power lines were because of the hill. When he crested the hill and saw the powerlines at eye-level, he attempted to climb over the power lines, but the skids struck the top static wire.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 2 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents2

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