Robinson R44 N8343P

Summary

On 13 August 2014 at about 17:30 local time, a Robinson R44 registered N8343P, operated by Back Nine Aerial LLC, was involved in an accident near Lancaster, 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

13 August 2014 at 17:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Lancaster, Wisconsin, United States

Nearest airport

Lancaster Muni (73C)

Coordinates

42.7625, -90.6597

Aircraft

Robinson R44

Registration

N8343P

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1996

Engines

1

Operator

Back Nine Aerial LLC

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lancaster → Lancaster

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN14CA426

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's inadequate monitoring of the environment and failure to maintain clearance from transmission wires 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 while conduction an aerial application flight, he did not see power lines in his path and the helicopter struck the wires that and then the ground. The main rotor blades severed the tail boom of the helicopter during the event. In his report, the pilot listed no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the helicopter.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.