N577AT – ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44 – 2015-07-12 NTSB Accident Report

On July 12, 2015, a Robinson Helicopter R44 (N577AT) was involved in an incident near Viola, TN. All 1 person aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot's failure to see and avoid a guy wire, which resulted in contact with the wire and subsequent collision with terrain.

The pilot of the helicopter stated that he made two passes over the field to check for obstructions prior to beginning the aerial application flight, and remembered observing only one guy wire. While making a final application to the edges of the field, the pilot flew around the previously-observed guy wire, but the helicopter's skid contacted a second wire that he had not seen. The helicopter impacted the ground on its side, resulting in substantial damage. The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies of the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

This incident is documented in NTSB report ERA15CA262. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N577AT.