Robinson R44 II N4386W

Summary

On 12 March 2020 at about 03:45 local time, a Robinson R44 II registered N4386W, operated by Aerial Crane Enterprises LLC, was involved in an accident near Sterling City, Texas, 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

12 March 2020 at 03:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Sterling City, Texas, United States

Coordinates

31.1626, -101.2732

Aircraft

Robinson R44 II

Registration

N4386W

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2009

Engines

1

Operator

Aerial Crane Enterprises LLC

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Big Lake → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN20LA442

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from power lines 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 to local law enforcement that while conducting an aerial application flight, the helicopter impacted power lines. He said that while he had crossed over the power lines multiple times during the application flight; however, the sun was blocked by a cloud and the power line was not visible due to the lack of a reflection off the line. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor mast. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector that examined the helicopter on scene, he reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operations.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.