Robinson R66 accident near St Jacob, Illinois, April 21, 2019
On April 21, 2019, a 2013 Robinson R66 (helicopter), registered N766WC, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near St Jacob, Illinois. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's in-flight collision with an unmarked wire during an aerial application flight; the wire lacked contrast with the surrounding environment.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 21, 2019
- Place
- St Jacob, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R66 No Series, built 2013 · all R66s on the register
- Registration
- N766WC · no longer on the register · serial 0397
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was performing aerial application operations and stated that he aligned the helicopter to perform a pass along the edge of a wheat field. During the pass, he noticed a power line in front of him, but the helicopter was "too close to avoid [it]." He felt the helicopter mast contact the power line; the helicopter began to "shake" violently and then impacted the ground. The pilot stated that he had performed reconnaissance of the field before beginning the application to identify power lines and other obstructions; however, he had not seen the impacted power line during the reconnaissance nor during the application. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the helicopter. Postaccident examination revealed that the power line was a green copper wire approximately 1/4-inch in diameter. The power line pole at the southern edge of the field was within the tree line and the field vegetation was green; it is likely that this lack of contrast contributed to the pilot's inability to identify the wire.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Loss of control in flight during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Ability to respond/compensate
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Incorrect use/operation
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,176 hours in all; 581 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 6,996 as pilot in command; 2,220 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 8, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 724.3 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 4, 2019
- Maximum gross weight: 2,700 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls Royce 250-c300/A1 (turboshaft); 724 hours total
- Operator: Skyline Helicopters LLC
The flight
- Departed from: St Jacob IL
- Destination: St Jacob IL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observation at 11:56 pm from BLV, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on November 21, 2019. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Examination | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.