Robinson R44 II N560LH

Summary

On 27 June 2014 at about 23:15 local time, a Robinson R44 II registered N560LH, operated by Vertical Ascent LLC, was involved in an accident near Quincy, Washington, 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

27 June 2014 at 23:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Quincy, Washington, United States

Coordinates

47.2167, -119.8333

Aircraft

Robinson R44 II

Registration

N560LH

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2003

Engines

1

Operator

Vertical Ascent LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Quincy → Quincy

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR14CA270

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a wind generator tower while drying cherries, which resulted in a loss of aircraft control and subsequent hard landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that while drying cherries, he inadvertently let the main rotor blades strike a wind generator tower. The helicopter became uncontrollable, hit the ground hard, and came to rest in the orchard. The main rotor blades and airframe sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.