Robinson R44 II N699TQ

Summary

On 6 September 2014 at about 17:07 local time, a Robinson R44 II registered N699TQ, operated by Johnson Helicopter Services, was involved in an accident near Macedonia, Iowa, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 September 2014 at 17:07

Classification

Accident

Location

Macedonia, Iowa, United States

Coordinates

41.1825, -95.5356

Aircraft

Robinson R44 II

Registration

N699TQ

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2004

Engines

1

Operator

Johnson Helicopter Services

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Red Oak → Red Oak

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN14LA487

1 person died.

The pilot’s inadequate visual lookout, which resulted in a collision with a static line.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was conducting agricultural spray operations in a helicopter. He had sprayed three fields earlier in the day and was en route to the next field when the accident occurred. Witnesses reported observing the helicopter heading north and then colliding with a suspended static line. The helicopter subsequently pitched up, descended, and impacted terrain. Larger transmission lines were located above the smaller static lines. A witness who was about 1/4 mile from the accident site stated that he could see the larger transmission lines but that he did not see the smaller static lines until the helicopter struck one of them. He also stated that it did not appear that the pilot took any evasive action to avoid the line. A postaccident examination of the helicopter did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.