Robinson R44 N428JG

Summary

On 10 May 2017 at about 20:27 local time, a Robinson R44 registered N428JG, operated by AG-Max LLC, was involved in an accident near Vevay, Indiana, 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

10 May 2017 at 20:27

Classification

Accident

Location

Vevay, Indiana, United States

Coordinates

38.7461, -85.0733

Aircraft

Robinson R44

Registration

N428JG

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2003

Engines

1

Operator

AG-Max LLC

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Vevay → Vevay

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA17CA279

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to see and avoid power lines during an agricultural application flight due to distraction when reading a map.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he accomplished a high reconnaissance of the field before maneuvering to descend for an agricultural application. He recalled that his attention was split between visually acquiring the intended application area and the indications on his digital map mounted in the cockpit. He descended below a tree line into the intended application area, but "I was still attempting to compare the crop on my field to my map, and was not looking outside the aircraft as diligently as required." He diverted his attention outside the cockpit and noticed power lines at eye level. He immediately lowered the collective and applied forward cyclic, but the main rotor mast struck the power lines. He landed the helicopter in the field; however, the main rotor blades sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.