Enstrom 480 N130JS

Summary

On 4 June 2020 at about 18:30 local time, a Enstrom 480 registered N130JS was involved in an accident near Murphy, Idaho, 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

4 June 2020 at 18:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Murphy, Idaho, United States

Coordinates

43.2389, -116.7633

Aircraft

Enstrom 480

Registration

N130JS

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1998

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Renolds Creek → Jordan Valley

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR20CA171

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a power line while maneuvering during an aerial application flight.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that during the aerial application flight, while maneuvering at low altitude, he came upon some trees and increased altitude to climbed above the treetops. He did not see that there were power lines behind the trees and did not have enough time to avoid colliding with two of the lines. The pilot was unable to maintain control of the helicopter descended in a slow spin to ground impact. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and tail boom. 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.