Sud SE3130 ALOUETTE II N226RW

Summary

On 8 March 2007 at about 21:30 local time, a Sud SE3130 ALOUETTE II registered N226RW, operated by Marpat Aviation, was involved in an accident near Davenport, Virginia, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 March 2007 at 21:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Davenport, Virginia, United States

Coordinates

37.2778, -82.3889

Aircraft

Sud SE3130 ALOUETTE II

Registration

N226RW

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Marpat Aviation

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Aerial Observation

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Richlands → Wise

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC07CA072

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's inadequate visual lookout, which resulted in an in flight collision with utility wires during takeoff, and a subsequent impact with terrain.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.