Robinson R44 II N458SG

Summary

On 31 July 2022 at about 18:55 local time, a Robinson R44 II registered N458SG, operated by Cedar Ridge Aviation LLC, was involved in an accident near Marshall, Missouri, 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

31 July 2022 at 18:55

Classification

Accident

Location

Marshall, Missouri, United States

Coordinates

39.1091, -93.2755

Aircraft

Robinson R44 II

Registration

N458SG

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2004

Engines

1

Operator

Cedar Ridge Aviation 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

CEN22LA350

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to adequately survey a field for obstructions prior to a low-level aerial application pass, which resulted in an impact with a powerline.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, during an aerial application flight in a helicopter, he mistakenly thought a power pole he had observed during an overflight was the termination point of a powerline. He stated that he failed to notice another power pole that was obscured by trees near a small house and impacted the lines between the poles during a spray pass. The helicopter subsequently impacted terrain. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, tail boom and main rotor blades. 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.