Robinson R44 N883TY

Summary

On 29 June 2019 at about 15:40 local time, a Robinson R44 registered N883TY, operated by Ali Co, was involved in an accident near Parsons, West Virginia, United States. 3 people were on board and one was seriously injured, 2 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

29 June 2019 at 15:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Parsons, West Virginia, United States

Coordinates

39.2269, -79.7208

Aircraft

Robinson R44

Registration

N883TY

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2014

Engines

1

Operator

Ali Co

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Elgon → Elgon

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA19TA204

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's decision to maneuver the helicopter at low altitude over a river, which resulted in a wire strike 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 and two passengers were on a sightseeing flight. The helicopter entered a river basin that the pilot had previously flown through and rounded a bend. The pilot then saw unmarked wires that spanned the riverand tried to fly under the wires; however, the helicopter's main rotor struck the lowest wire. The helicopter then descended and came to rest on its right side in the river. The wires were about 50 ft above the river and were not depicted on the visual flight rules sectional chart. The pilot said that he had not previously noticed the wires but that he was flying at a lower altitude than on previous flights and "was too low in a place I shouldn't have been." The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.