Adelanto Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Adelanto, California 92301
Saturday, November 7, 2009 8:30 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

A pilot reported that he was flying his airplane about 0.5 mile behind and slightly above the accident helicopter. He had established radio contact with the two pilots during their takeoff and then made multiple unanswered radio calls to the pilots to warn them about approaching power lines. The main rotor blade struck the power lines and the helicopter subsequently descended into the terrain below and was consumed by a postcrash fire. On scene examination of the wreckage revealed evidence of engine rotation; no anomalies were noted that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from powerlines during en route flight.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/7/2009
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 830
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City Adelanto
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 92301
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 343119N
Event Location Longitude 1172745W
Event Location Airport Adelanto Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 52CL
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 3075
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 746 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 50
Weather Observation Facility ID VCV
Elevation of weather observation facility 2885
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 7
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Day
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) 10
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.92
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report KVCV 071546Z 18004KT 10SM SKC 10/02 A2996
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 3
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 28305
NTSB Notification Source FAA- WP Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 18 2011 7:37AM
User who most recently changed record rows
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N183YP
NTSB Number WPR10LA048
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIASECKI/PIKE
Aircraft Model PV-18
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 18-1
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PIKE JOSEPH WILLIAM
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City VICTORVILLE
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 92392-1937
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name PIKE JOSEPH WILLIAM
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City VICTORVILLE
Operator State CA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 92392-1937
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 52CL
Departure City Adelanto
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 825
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code RIR
Destination City Riverside
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 27 2011 6:11PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --