Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II N719TF accident near Ithaca, Nebraska

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from power lines during low level aerial application operations due to a distraction.

NTSB analysis

The pilot was enroute to the next field he would spray and used a handheld GPS unit to navigate. When he finished imputing information into the GPS, he looked up and saw power lines across his flight path. The pilot pulled up on the collective and cyclic to climb; however, the helicopter struck the upper power line. The pilot entered an autorotation, during which the pilot felt unusual vibrations, but had full authority of the flight controls. The helicopter settled into a mature stand of corn, which resulted in structural damage to the tail boom and main rotor system. The pilot stated that he should have climbed to 500 ft agl before he used his GPS to navigate to the next field.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN22LA345 for the full record.