Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Uniontown, Washington 99179
Monday, April 25, 2005 9:40 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

In a written statement the pilot reported that he was conducting spray operations, under power lines, when the helicopter was "hit" with a gust of wind that was sufficient enough to "push the helicopter" toward a series of power poles. The pilot further stated that he was unable to correct his flight path and the helicopter's main rotor blade subsequently impacted a power pole resulting in substantial damage.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from an object while maneuvering, which resulted in the main rotor blades striking a power pole. The power pole was a factor in the accident.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/25/2005
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 940
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Uniontown
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99179
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 463101N
Event Location Longitude 1170438W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) --
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 18351
NTSB Notification Source FAA-ROC SEA
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Sep 13 2005 12:54PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N334WN
NTSB Number SEA05CA086
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Williams Helicopter
Aircraft Model UH-1B
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 62-2097
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed --
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site --
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name POPE, JIM DEAN
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Lewiston
Aircraft Owner State ID
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 83501
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Leading Edge Aviat
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Lewiston
Operator State ID
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code YJDG
Owner has at least one certificate --
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Agriculture
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board --
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City Uniontown
Departure State WA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone --
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 19 2005 5:29PM
User who most recently changed record MCGR
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --