What happened
On January 22, 2009, a Hughes OH-6A helicopter, registration N4191A, crashed near Monroe, North Carolina, after striking high-tension power lines. The flight departed Monroe Regional Airport (EQY) at approximately 1000 eastern standard time. While the original plan was to fly to Columbia, South Carolina, the crew decided to remain in the local area to practice power line observations and calibrate a Global Positioning System (GPS) unit.
During the flight, the pilot-in-command transferred control of the aircraft to the pilot-rated-passenger to focus on adjusting the GPS settings. The GPS unit had reverted to factory defaults and was providing obstacle warnings. To adjust the unit's sensitivity, the pilot had to lean forward and to the left, which restricted his visibility. During these adjustments, the aircraft entered a right turn, placing it on a path toward the transmission lines. Witnesses reported seeing the helicopter impact the wires, followed by blue flashes of light and a loud boom, after which the aircraft struck the ground.
The accident resulted in 1 fatal injury and 1 serious injury.