Sud Aviation SE3130 Alouette II accident near Davenport, Virginia, March 8, 2007
On March 8, 2007 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Sud Aviation SE3130 Alouette II (helicopter), registered N226RW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Davenport, Virginia. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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, which resulted in an in flight collision with utility wires during takeoff, and a subsequent impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 8, 2007 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Davenport, Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Sud Aviation SE3130 Alouette II
- Registration
- N226RW · no longer on the register · serial 1868
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was flying pipeline patrol in a helicopter, while the copilot monitored the pipeline on a laptop computer. During the patrol, the laptop computer malfunctioned, and the pilot landed in a field while the copilot attempted to repair the laptop computer. After the laptop computer was repaired, the pilot hover taxied to the end of the field, and began a takeoff run. During the takeoff run, at an altitude of 40 feet and airspeed of 30 to 40 knots, the helicopter struck utility wires. The helicopter subsequently impacted a field and came to rest on its right side. The pilot did not report any preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the helicopter.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 595 hours in all; 270 in this make and model; 95 in the last 90 days; 37 in the last 30 days; 505 as pilot in command; 163 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Turbomeca Artouste II (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Marpat Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: 6V3 Richlands VA
- Destination: LNP Wise VA
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 14°F (-10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 9:40 pm from LNP, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.