ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 291376
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| Date: | Saturday 21 May 2016 |
| Time: | 09:00 LT |
| Type: |  Bell OH-58 |
| Owner/operator: | Wilbur-ellis Co |
| Registration: | N543SD |
| MSN: | 41094 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1970 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 12838 hours |
| Engine model: | Rolls Royce 720 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Waitsburg, Washington -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) |
| Nature: | Agricultural |
| Departure airport: | Waitsburg, WA |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The pilot reported that he was conducting a low reconnaissance flight prior to helicopter aerial application operations; during the low reconnaissance, the helicopter came in contact with a power line which caught on the left skid. The pilot further reported that, while under tension, a section of the power line "snapped" into the main rotor system resulting in a loss of control. Subsequently, the pilot performed an emergency autorotation to a wheat field which resulted in a hard landing followed by main rotor contact with and consequent separation of the tail boom.
The fuselage and the tail boom were substantially damaged.
The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
As a safety recommendation, the pilot reported that a more thorough high reconnaissance flight prior to the low reconnaissance flight would have decreased the probability of this accident occurring.
Probable Cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the power line during low reconnaissance flight, which resulted in a power line strike, loss of control, and a subsequent hard landing.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB GAA16CA258
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 07-Oct-2022 13:07 | ASN Update Bot | Added |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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