Sikorsky S-55QT accident near Benton City, Washington, June 3, 2024
On June 3, 2024 at about 1:27 am local time, a 1952 Sikorsky S-55QT (helicopter), registered N2302F, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Benton City, Washington. It was an other work-use 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 failure to maintain clearance from power lines during a low altitude operation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 3, 2024 · about 1:27 am local time
- Place
- Benton City, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Sikorsky S-55QT, built 1952 · all S-55QTs on the register
- Registration
- N2302F · registry record · serial 55188
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that the purpose of the flight was to hover over cherry trees in attempt to dry off the orchard following a rain shower. While maneuvering about 30 ft above ground level (agl) at an airspeed of about 20 mph, parallel to power lines on his right side, he performed a turn, and the tail rotor blades contacted and severed the adjacent power lines. The pilot felt a tail-rotor imbalance and opted to land immediately. During the accident sequence, the helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail rotor. The pilot reported that there were no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures that precluded normal operation.
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
- Low altitude operation/event during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Awareness of condition
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,827 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 7,243 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 30, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,268.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 17, 2024; 9.7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Garrett TSE331-10UA (turboshaft); 68,705 hours total
- Operator: N2302F LLC
The flight
- Departed from: Benton City WA at 1:00 am
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 6,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.69 inHg
- Observation at 6:35 pm from KRLD, 9 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KRLD 030135Z AUTO 12007KT 10SM -RA OVC060 17/15 A2969 RMK AO2 T01710147
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Full view of the tail rotor
Photograph 2 – Close-up of tip damage
Photograph 3 – Close-up of tip and trailing edge damageThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on December 2, 2024. 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | 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.