N/A Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Allen, Nebraska 68710
Thursday, July 31, 2014 14:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The helicopter pilot was conducting an agricultural spray operation to a sloped field with several hills and valleys. As he approached a set of midfield power lines on about his fortieth pass, the pilot encountered stronger winds with significant turbulence and lost control of the helicopter. The helicopter struck a guy-wire for the midfield power lines and subsequently impacted the ground nose first.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot did not ensure sufficient obstacle clearance for potential wind conditions, which resulted in his loss of control of the helicopter.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/31/2014
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1430
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Allen
Event State NEBRASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 68710
Event Date Year 2014
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 422457N
Event Location Longitude 0965029W
Event Location Airport N/A
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport --
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1435 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 211
Weather Observation Facility ID KLCG
Elevation of weather observation facility 1431
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 12
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 7000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 120
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.06
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 33242
NTSB Notification Source Federal Aviation Administratio
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 18 2014 3:41PM
User who most recently changed record folm
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7194H
NTSB Number CEN14CA403
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name ROBINSON HELICOPTER
Aircraft Model R44
Aircraft Series Identifier UNDESIGNAT
Aircraft Serial Number 0941
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 2
Cabin Crew Seats 2
Passenger Seats 4
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jul 9 2014 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 4466
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SHENANDOAH AGRICULTRUAL SPRAY SERVICE IN
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City WEYERS CAVE
Aircraft Owner State VA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 244862315
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name SHENANDOAH AGRICULTRUAL SPRAY SERVICE IN
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City WEYERS CAVE
Operator State VA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 244862315
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
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) Aerial Application
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code Priv
Departure City Sioux City
Departure State IA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1315
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code Priv
Destination City Sioux City
Destination State IA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 18 2014 2:59PM
User who most recently changed record folm
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --