FRESNO, CA, USA
N83556
ROBINSON R-22
THE CFI DEMONSTRATED A RIGHT CIRCLING CONFINED AREA APPROACH IN A STAND OF OAK TREES AFTER FLYING OVER THE AREA. HE THEN INSTRUCTED THE DUAL STUDENT TO PERFORM THE MANEUVER. AFTER THE DUAL STUDENT COMPLETED TWO SUCCESSFUL CONFINED AREA APPROACHES TO A HOVER, THE CFI ASSUMED THE CONTROLS AND DEPARTED STRAIGHT OUT OVER THE LOWEST SECTION OF THE TREES. SECONDS LATER THE HELICOPTER STRUCK SOME POWER LINE WIRES THAT WERE PARTIALLY OBSTRUCTED FROM VIEW BY THE TREES.
THE CFI'S POOR IN-FLIGHT DECISION TO PROCEED OVER THE TREES INSTEAD OF THE PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED RIGHT CIRCLING TURNS AND BOTH PILOTS INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOK-OUT. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WERE THE TREES THAT PARTIALLY OBSTRUCTED THE VIEW OF THE POWER LINE WIRES.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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