Summary
On August 07, 2015, a Robinson R44 (N20KD) was involved in an accident near Kansasville, WI. The accident resulted in 1 minor injury. The aircraft was destroyed.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The pilot's inability to see and avoid power lines that were low to the ground and a green color that blended with the background crops.
According to the pilot's accident report, he flew over the field that was to be sprayed with pesticides and looked for obstacles. Seeing none, he commenced spraying and collided with power lines. The pilot said the power lines were only 13 feet off the ground and were green in color that blended in with the background crops. The pilot wrote, "It was in my opinion [that it was] impossible to see the wires that I hit." According to the Federal Aviation Administration inspector who went to the site, the helicopter's canopy contacted the power lines, then the lines slid beneath the helicopter and caught the skids. The helicopter nosed over and impacted terrain.
This accident is documented in NTSB report CEN15CA348. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N20KD.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's inability to see and avoid power lines that were low to the ground and a green color that blended with the background crops.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
According to the pilot's accident report, he flew over the field that was to be sprayed with pesticides and looked for obstacles. Seeing none, he commenced spraying and collided with power lines. The pilot said the power lines were only 13 feet off the ground and were green in color that blended in with the background crops. The pilot wrote, "It was in my opinion [that it was] impossible to see the wires that I hit." According to the Federal Aviation Administration inspector who went to the site, the helicopter's canopy contacted the power lines, then the lines slid beneath the helicopter and caught the skids. The helicopter nosed over and impacted terrain.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CEN15CA348