N8497Y

On September 18, 1999, approximately 1330 mountain daylight time, a Robinson R22A, N8497Y, registered to and operated by Hunts Hashknife Helicopters, Inc., was substantially damaged when it collided with powerlines shortly after taking off from a field 20 miles northwest of Tucumcari, New Mexico. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant aboard, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the business flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91.

According to the pilot's accident report, he had been herding cattle on the Clabber Hill Ranch for about four hours when he took a lunch break. When he returned, he preflighted the helicopter, then took off into the wind in a northerly direction. After traveling 100 to 150 yards at an altitude of 30 feet and at an airspeed of 30 knots, the helicopter collided with powerlines. The pilot said he did not see the powerlines because they blended in with the brush and background terrain. Asked how this accident could have been prevented, the pilot wrote: "A better recon[naissance] of area before T/O [takeoff]."