Accident Details
On July 26, 2022, at 0455 eastern daylight time, a Eurocopter AS365N3 (registration N520CF) was substantially damaged after striking high-voltage power lines near Hamilton, Ohio. The helicopter was operating as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 air medical flight. The pilot and two crew members sustained minor injuries.
According to the pilot, he was dispatched to a car accident in Hamilton, Ohio. He checked the weather, approved the flight, and departed for the scene around 0428 in dark night visual meteorological conditions. About 9 miles from the scene, he contacted on-scene fire department personnel, stated he was a few minutes out, and asked for site information. The fire department reported high voltage power lines on the south side of the landing zone.
As the pilot continued to the scene, he knew the winds were calm and orbited from the south to the north. He made an approach from the south and looked for the power lines but could not locate the wires. The pilot stated he did not think the wires would be in or around the landing zone. He was wearing night vision goggles and could see the tower but not the wires. He did not know which direction the wires ran from the tower. The pilot used the landing light to scan for the wires but could not find them. He thought the wires were further from the landing zone and not below the helicopter. As the helicopter descended, the main rotor blades contacted the wires, and the helicopter fell about 30 to 50 feet. All three crew members egressed after the pilot shut down the engines.
Postaccident Examination
Postaccident examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the helicopter struck the high voltage wires, severing one wire, and then landed hard. Portions of each main rotor blade were separated near their mid-span. The main rotor gearbox and mounts were fractured. The left engine was hanging off its motor mounts. The helicopter came to rest on its left side. The stabilizer was bent and substantially damaged, and the landing gear were impact damaged.