Robinson R44 N44XB

Summary

On 20 July 2021 at about 18:30 local time, a Robinson R44 registered N44XB, operated by MF Helicopters LLC, was involved in an accident near Mineral Point, Wisconsin, United States. One person was 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

20 July 2021 at 18:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Mineral Point, Wisconsin, United States

Coordinates

42.8744, -90.2086

Aircraft

Robinson R44

Registration

N44XB

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2002

Engines

1

Operator

MF Helicopters LLC

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN21LA452

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to see and avoid a wire during an aerial application flight, resulting in a collision with the wire.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the helicopter was conducting agricultural application when he noticed the oil pressure light flickering just before making the 180o turn for his next run, and he turned toward a cornfield and made a precautionary landing. The pilot reported that the landing was soft, but the spray boom broke during landing. Two witnesses reported that the helicopter was maneuvering at low altitude and struck a wire before landing in the cornfield. They both reported that the pilot got out and examined the helicopter, got back in, took off, and departed the area. Photographs taken by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector showed that the helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor blades. The pilot reported that he did not feel the impact of the rotor blades with the wire.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.