2009 Robinson R44 Collision with Guy-Wire Near Boonsboro, Maryland (N7189W)

Accident Overview and Flight Details On July 23, 2009, at 2226 eastern daylight time, a Robinson R44 helicopter, registration N7189W, was substantially damaged when it struck a guy-wire and impacted the ground during cruise flight near Boonsboro, Maryland. The accident resulted in the deaths of the certificated commercial pilot and three passengers. The flight was a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 business operation that originated from Hagerstown Regional Airport (HGR) and was en route to Frederick Municipal Airport (FDK). No flight plan had been filed, and night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The helicopter was based at FDK and maintained by Advanced Helicopter Concepts (AHC). It was privately owned by a trustee of the Advanced Helicopter Youth Foundation, a non-profit charity founded by the president of AHC. On the day of the accident, the helicopter had flown from FDK to HGR to transport a director of the foundation and another passenger to a business association meeting. The pilot also provided short rides around the traffic pattern until approximately 2000. After the meeting, the pilot and passengers boarded the helicopter but returned to the terminal after a brief shutdown. An airport employee reported that a passenger described the weather as “pretty bad” and that the pilot expected a delay of about one hour. The pilot contacted an AHC employee near FDK at approximately 2100 and again between 2200 and 2215 to check weather conditions. The employee reported severe thunderstorms, fog, wind, and lightning, and offered to drive the occupants to FDK, but the pilot stated they would wait for the weather to improve. The helicopter departed HGR at an estimated 2215. The HGR air traffic control tower had closed at 2200, and no communications with the helicopter were recorded. Witnesses on Interstate 70 observed the helicopter flying parallel to the highway, appearing to descend into low clouds or fog, and then contacting power lines before impacting the ground and bursting into flames.