STONE MOUNTAIN, GA, USA
N54BA
ROBINSON R-22B
THE HELICOPTER HAD BEEN LANDED IN A RESIDENTIAL CUL-DE-SAC. IT REMAINED PARKED THERE WHILE THE PILOT AND HIS PASSENGER ATE AT A NEARBY RESIDENCE. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT A TELEPHONE WIRE WAS LOCATED BEHIND, AND ABOUT 20 FEET ABOVE THE AIRCRAFT. ON DEPARTURE, THE TAIL ROTOR CONTACTED THE WIRE WHEN THE PILOT LOWERED THE NOSE TO BEGIN THE TRANSITION FROM A HOVER TO FORWARD FLIGHT. AFTER CONTACTING THE WIRE, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED DIRECTIONAL CONTROL PROBLEMS AND AN AUTOROTATION WAS MADE BACK TO THE STREET. THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD, WHICH RESULTED IN SPREADING THE SKIDS AND BENDING THE HELICOPTER FRAME. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE TAIL ROTOR WAS MANGLED.
On May 8, 1994, about 1945 eastern daylight time, a Robinson R-22B, N54BA, collided with a telephone line during takeoff near Stone Mountain, Georgia. The helicopter was operated by the pilot under 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A flight plan was not filed for the personal flight. There were no injuries to the private pilot, nor his passenger, and the helicopter was substantially damaged. The flight was originating at the time. According to the pilot, the helicopter was landed on a street in a residential area. On departure from the landing site, the tail rotor contacted a telephone line which was located behind the helicopter, about 20 feet above the curb. The pilot said that the collision occurred when he lowered the nose of the helicopter to initiate the transition to forward flight. After the collision, directional problems were experienced with the helicopter and an autorotation was made back to the street, which resulted in a hard landing. A Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report NTSB Form 6120.1/2 was not received from the operator.
the pilot's improper vertical takeoff in that he allowed the helicopter to drift rearward, and his failure to maintain clearance from the wire.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
Aviation Accidents App
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