Robinson R44 N466EL

Summary

On 27 July 2018 at about 23:10 local time, a Robinson R44 registered N466EL, operated by Airbourn Aviation, was involved in an accident near Elma, Iowa, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

27 July 2018 at 23:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Elma, Iowa, United States

Coordinates

43.3347, -92.3844

Aircraft

Robinson R44

Registration

N466EL

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2005

Engines

1

Operator

Airbourn Aviation

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA18CA453

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure maintain clearance from power lines during an agricultural application flight. 

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The helicopter pilot reported that, during a high reconnaissance of a field intended for agricultural application, he saw power lines to the north with lines running northwest to southeast. He then started the application on the southwest corner of the field, and while flying west to east, he saw another set of power lines crossing the southeastern corner of the field. About 14 ft above the ground, the main rotor blades impacted the lines, after which the helicopter pitched aft and then impacted the ground. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and main rotor blades. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.