ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 59019
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| Date: | Tuesday 24 March 2009 |
| Time: | 06:39 |
| Type: |  Robinson R22 Beta |
| Owner/operator: | American Helicopters LLC |
| Registration: | N139RJ |
| MSN: | 1683 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1991 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 8177 hours |
| Engine model: | Lycoming O-320 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Chowchilla, CA -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) |
| Nature: | Agricultural |
| Departure airport: | Fresno Chandler Executive Airport, CA (FCH/KFCH) |
| Chowchilla, CA | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The helicopter was being used to move warm air to prevent frost on a farm at the junction of Road 19 and Avenue 26 near Chowchilla. The helicopter clipped a wire on a PG&E transmission tower which caused the aircraft to crash into the tower. The crash caused 10,700 PG&E customers to lose power in Madera County. The pilot is in his mid 30's and lives in Fresno. He did sustain injuries in the crash and was taken to an area hospital. The pilot was alert, but his condition is unknown. According to the official NTSB report into the 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.
Probable Cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the power lines."
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB
2. FAA register: http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=139RJ
3. http://helihub.com/2009/03/24/24-mar-09-n139rj-robinson-r22-chowchilla-us-california/
4. https://abc30.com/archive/6723248/
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 24-Mar-2009 23:24 | Digitalis | Added |
| 25-Mar-2009 08:00 | slowkid | Updated |
| 01-Oct-2016 17:55 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Time, Source, Narrative] |
| 01-Oct-2016 18:01 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Source, Narrative] |
| 01-Oct-2016 18:05 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Departure airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:25 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
| 01-Dec-2017 12:15 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Other fatalities, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 26-Sep-2018 23:15 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Time, Operator, Other fatalities, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 26-Feb-2022 00:00 | Captain Adam | Updated [Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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