Robinson R44 N20KD
7 August 2015 · Kansasville, Wisconsin, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 7 August 2015 at about 16:15 local time, a Robinson R44 registered N20KD, operated by Deakins Black Nine Dairy, LLC, was involved in an accident near Kansasville, Wisconsin, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 16:15
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Kansasville, Wisconsin, United States
- Coordinates
- 42.7311, -88.1117
- Aircraft
- Robinson R44
- Registration
- N20KD
- Category
- Helicopter
- Year built
- 2001
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Deakins Black Nine Dairy, LLC
- Operating rule
- Part 137: Agricultural
- Purpose of flight
- Aerial Application
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- East Troy → East Troy
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- CEN15CA348
People
1 person had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Probable cause
The pilot's inability to see and avoid power lines that were low to the ground and a green color that blended with the background crops.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot flew over the field to be sprayed looking for obstacles. Seeing none, he commenced spraying and collided with power lines. The pilot said the power lines were only 13 feet off the ground and were green in color that blended in with the background crops. The helicopter's canopy contacted the power lines, then the lines slid beneath the helicopter and caught the skids. The helicopter nosed over and impacted terrain.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Robinson R44 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Feb 2015 | Robinson R44 II | Calexico, California, United States | John Reed Aviation | No injuries | - |
| 15 Apr 2015 | Robinson R44 II | Dunlap, Illinois, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 9 Sep 2015 | Robinson R44 | Foleyet, Canada | Apex Helicopters Inc. | Fatal | 2 |
| 14 Jun 2015 | Robinson R44-UNDESIGNAT | Timber Creek, Australia, Australia | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 13 Nov 2015 | Robinson R44 II | Alpine, Texas, United States | Concho Aviation LLC | Serious injuries | - |
| 19 Sep 2015 | Robinson R44 | Fort Glenn, Alaska, United States | Bering Pacific Ranches, Ltd. | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Jul 2015 | Socata TBM 700 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States | Trustey Management Corporation | Fatal | 2 |
| 5 Sep 2015 | Venus CP328 SUPER EMERAUDE | Port Wing, Wisconsin, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 14 Jun 2015 | Continental Copters TOMCAT MK5A | Elk Mound, Wisconsin, United States | Churchill, Scott | No injuries | - |
| 1 Aug 2015 | Cessna 182 | Watertown, Wisconsin, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 15 Nov 2015 | Hickham LANCAIR IV-P | Shawano, Wisconsin, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 21 Jun 2015 | Mooney M20K | Sheboygan, Wisconsin, United States | James R. Pawlak | No injuries | - |