Robinson R44 II N371MP

Summary

On 5 December 2020 at about 19:30 local time, a Robinson R44 II registered N371MP, operated by Private Individual, was involved in an accident near Marietta, Texas, United States. 5 people were 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

5 December 2020 at 19:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Marietta, Texas, United States

Coordinates

33.1940, -94.5261

Aircraft

Robinson R44 II

Registration

N371MP

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2019

Engines

1

Operator

Private Individual

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Texarkana

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN21LA077

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to see and avoid a transmission wire during takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was lifting off from a field near a road with obstructions to the north, east, and south. During the departure to the west, the helicopter collided with a transmission line and the helicopter landed hard on the highway. The fuselage and 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. He stated that the accident could have been prevented if he had performed a confined area takeoff.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.