Bell 222 accident near Middleville, Michigan, January 30, 1990
On January 30, 1990 at about 3:10 pm local time, a Bell 222 (helicopter), registered N828WA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Middleville, Michigan. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE AND CLEARANCE FROM THE TV TOWER. THE TV TOWER (GUY WIRE) WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 30, 1990 · about 3:10 pm local time
- Place
- Middleville, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 222 · all 222s on the register
- Registration
- N828WA · registry record · serial 47086
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT THE HELICOPTER WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 1,500 FEET MSL (500 TO 600 FEET AGL) ON A REPOSITIONING FLIGHT, WHEN IT STRUCK A GUY WIRE ON A 1,060 FOOT HIGH TV TOWER. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE SEVERED THE WIRE/CABLE, AND THE PILOT PERFORMED AN EMERGENCY DESCENT TO A FORCED LANDING IN A NEARBY FIELD. THE PILOT TOLD THE STATE POLICE THAT THE HELICOPTER WAS ON AUTOPILOT, AND 'HE WAS CHECKING HIS LOG (AND PAPERS) AND VARIOUS INSTRUMENTS IN THE COCKPIT . . . HAPPENED TO LOOK UP JUST PRIOR TO STRIKING THE CABLE.' A REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE OWNERS OF THE TV TOWER REPORTED THAT IT WAS MARKED (PAINTED, LIT, ETC.) IN ACCORDANCE WITH FAA REGULATIONS. THE PILOT'S LOGBOOK RECORDS INDICATED A TOTAL FLIGHT TIME OF 10,434 HOURS, OF WHICH 9,549 HOURS WERE ACCUMULATED IN ROTORCRAFT (INCLUDING 91 HOURS IN THE ACCIDENT MAKE AND MODEL AIRCRAFT).
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
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 10,434 hours in all; 91 in this make and model; 58 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 10,400 as pilot in command; 402 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,588 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 8, 1989; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,850 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming LTS-101-650C (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Mcmahon Helicopters Services
The flight
- Departed from: C19 Holland MI at 3:00 pm
- Destination: 1D2 Canton MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 9,500 ft; scat at 8,500 ft
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 pm from GRR, 11 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.