Piasecki/Pike PV-18 N183YP

Summary

On 7 November 2009 at about 16:30 local time, a Piasecki/Pike PV-18 registered N183YP was involved in an accident near Adelanto, California, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

7 November 2009 at 16:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Adelanto, California, United States

Nearest airport

Adelanto Airport (52CL)

Coordinates

34.5219, -117.4625

Aircraft

Piasecki/Pike PV-18

Registration

N183YP

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Adelanto → Riverside

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR10LA048

3 people died.

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from powerlines during en route flight.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

A pilot reported that he was flying his airplane about 0.5 mile behind and slightly above the accident helicopter. He had established radio contact with the two pilots during their takeoff and then made multiple unanswered radio calls to the pilots to warn them about approaching power lines. The main rotor blade struck the power lines and the helicopter subsequently descended into the terrain below and was consumed by a postcrash fire. On scene examination of the wreckage revealed evidence of engine rotation; no anomalies were noted that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.