Robinson R44 N529DW

Summary

On 9 June 2018 at about 17:29 local time, a Robinson R44 registered N529DW, operated by MF Helicopters LLC, was involved in an accident near Oshkosh, Wisconsin, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

9 June 2018 at 17:29

Classification

Accident

Location

Oshkosh, Wisconsin, United States

Coordinates

44.0172, -88.5494

Aircraft

Robinson R44

Registration

N529DW

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2001

Engines

1

Operator

MF Helicopters LLC

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Oshkosh → Oshkosh

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN18FA215

1 person died.

The pilot's decision to fly over the river at a low altitude and his failure to maintain clearance with wires during low-level flight.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The commercial pilot of the helicopter had just finished a low-level aerial photography flight of a boating event along a series of lakes and rivers. The pilot landed the helicopter, off-loaded the photographer, and departed to a nearby airport to refuel. Witnesses and surveillance video indicated that the helicopter was flying northwest over the river when, about 1/2 mile from the takeoff location, it contacted two lines of an unmarked five-line array that crossed about 100 ft above the river. The tail rotor separated from the helicopter, and the helicopter subsequently impacted the river. The photographer reported that they had flown over numerous bridges and power lines during the earlier flight and that they had discussed the location of the power lines in reference to the bridges. Examination of the airframe revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the helicopter. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with the pilot flying at an unnecessarily low altitude and then failing to maintain clearance from the wires while flying at low level.  

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.