Robinson R44 II N74666

Summary

On 25 June 2013 at about 22:10 local time, a Robinson R44 II registered N74666 was involved in an accident near The Dalles, Oregon, 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

25 June 2013 at 22:10

Classification

Accident

Location

The Dalles, Oregon, United States

Coordinates

45.3489, -121.1992

Aircraft

Robinson R44 II

Registration

N74666

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2005

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

The Dalles → The Dalles

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR13CA354

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to see and avoid wires while maneuvering at a low-altitude, which resulted in the main rotor blades striking the wires.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he was maneuvering at a low altitude over a cherry orchard as part of a drying operation. The light was low due to cloudy weather conditions and he did not see corroded copper wires that were adjacent to the orchard. He noticed a pole that had shiny wires on one side, which gave him the illusion that that was the end of the power line, since he could not see the other connected pole that was obscured by trees. The main rotor blades were substantially damaged when they contacted the wire. The pilot reported no pre impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.