Robinson R22 BETA N7122E

Summary

On 31 May 2014 at about 17:30 local time, a Robinson R22 BETA registered N7122E, operated by Mastopietro Kurt I, was involved in an accident near San Manuel, Arizona, United States. One person was 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

31 May 2014 at 17:30

Classification

Accident

Location

San Manuel, Arizona, United States

Coordinates

32.6250, -110.5639

Aircraft

Robinson R22 BETA

Registration

N7122E

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1999

Engines

1

Operator

Mastopietro Kurt I

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Aerial Observation

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

San Manuel → San Manuel

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR14CA216

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate obstacle clearance altitude from phone wires while performing low-level operations.

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

Read the full NTSB 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 pre impact mechanical malfunctions or failure with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.