Robinson R66 N266RK

Summary

On 5 October 2021 at about 19:20 local time, a Robinson R66 registered N266RK, operated by Thompson Flying Service LLC, was involved in an accident near Delta, Missouri, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

5 October 2021 at 19:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Delta, Missouri, United States

Coordinates

37.2060, -89.7457

Aircraft

Robinson R66

Registration

N266RK

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2014

Engines

1

Operator

Thompson Flying Service LLC

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Delta → Delta

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN22LA006

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot’s inadequate inflight planning and his failure to see and avoid a wire which resulted in contact with the wire and subsequent ground impact.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that during spray operations the helicopter contacted a wire and then impacted terrain, which damaged the main rotor mast and tail boom. Following the accident, the pilot realized the poles holding the wire were concealed by trees and that he should have conducted a more thorough inflight survey of the spray area. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.