On June 15, 1993, a Hughes 269 (registration N213MS) operated by Kriedelcamp, Jon was involved in an aviation accident near Valley City, ND. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's inadvertent contact between the main rotor blade and a tree branch, which resulted in loss of control. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A helicopter pilot applying herbicide on sloping terrain inadvertently struck a tree branch with the main rotor, resulting in loss of control and a subsequent crash in an adjacent field.
What happened
The pilot was operating a helicopter to apply herbicide across a landscape characterized by sloping terrain. During this operation, an isolated tree was present in the vicinity. The pilot maneuvered the aircraft toward the tree to target the vegetation for treatment. While approaching the tree, the main rotor blade made contact with a branch of the tree.
This impact caused the pilot to lose control of the helicopter. The aircraft subsequently crashed into the field located immediately adjacent to the tree where the incident occurred.
The investigation
The factual narrative provided indicates that the loss of control was directly associated with the main rotor blade striking a tree branch during the approach for herbicide application on sloping terrain.
Probable cause
The pilot's inadvertent contact between the main rotor blade and a tree branch, which resulted in loss of control.
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