Robinson R44 N577AT

Summary

On 12 July 2015 at about 13:00 local time, a Robinson R44 registered N577AT, operated by Air Assault Agricultural Aviation LLC, was involved in an accident near Viola, Tennessee, 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

12 July 2015 at 13:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Viola, Tennessee, United States

Coordinates

35.3100, -85.5200

Aircraft

Robinson R44

Registration

N577AT

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1996

Engines

1

Operator

Air Assault Agricultural Aviation LLC

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Morrison → Viola

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA15CA262

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to see and avoid a guy wire, which resulted in contact with the wire and subsequent collision with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the helicopter stated that he made two passes over the field to check for obstructions prior to beginning the aerial application flight, and remembered observing only one guy wire. While making a final application to the edges of the field, the pilot flew around the previously-observed guy wire, but the helicopter's skid contacted a second wire that he had not seen. The helicopter impacted the ground on its side, resulting in substantial damage. The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies of the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.     

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.