Chowchilla Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Chowchilla, California 93610
Tuesady, March 24, 2009 6:39 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot of the helicopter was flying over an agricultural field at dawn performing frost control. He flew three passes over the field at a low altitude in order to distribute warm air onto the crops. During the passes, he observed power lines in the vicinity. On the fourth pass he descended to about 50 feet agl and lost sight of the power lines. Concerned that he may collide with them, he began to turn right. Halfway through the turn the main rotor blades struck the power lines. The helicopter descended to the ground, sustaining substantial damage to the fuselage and rotor system. The pilot said that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the power lines.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/24/2009
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 639
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Chowchilla
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93610
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 370733n
Event Location Longitude 1201213w
Event Location Airport Chowchilla
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 2O6
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 2
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 242
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 653 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 150
Weather Observation Facility ID MAE
Elevation of weather observation facility 255
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Dawn
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 3
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 25371
NTSB Notification Source WPR ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 22 2009 3:28PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N139RJ
NTSB Number WPR09CA163
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name ROBINSON HELICOPTER
Aircraft Model R22 BETA
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 1683
Certified Max Gross Weight 1370
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 2 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 30
Airframe Hours 8177
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type C91-A
Aircraft Owner Name PREMIER HELICOPTER LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 711 S CARSON ST STE 4
Aircraft Owner City CARSON CITY
Aircraft Owner State NV
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 89701-5292
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name American Helicopters
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Fresno
Operator State CA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 93706
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) Other Work Use
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code FCH
Departure City Fresno
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 500
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Chowchilla
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 22 2009 3:28PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --