ERA25LA144

The pilot’s decision to fly at low altitude, at night, and over water, which resulted in the helicopter’s collision with power lines.

The pilot of the helicopter was on a cross-country flight and descended as the helicopter approached a reservoir, flying low over the water, but maintaining course. Night lighting conditions existed at the time, and witnesses near the scene reported it was very dark. The helicopter was flying at an estimated height of about 20 to 50 feet above the water when it impacted the top static wire of a set of power lines that ran perpendicular to the flight path. The helicopter then impacted the water about 200 ft from the shoreline. All major components of the helicopter were located at the accident site and postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of any preimpact malfunction or failure of the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. Multiple wire striation marks were present on the rotor blades and blade grips. The pilot’s decision to fly at such a low altitude, over a wide body of water, and in dark conditions placed him at an increased risk of collision with unseen objects, such as wires.

On March 14, 2025, about 0708 eastern daylight time, a Schweizer 269C helicopter, N262LH, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Mogadore, Ohio. The pilot was fatally injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot departed from his home airport, Medina Municipal Airport (1G5), Medina, Ohio, about 0615 and flew to Wadsworth Municipal Airport (3G3), Wadsworth, Ohio, to refuel before continuing to Portage County Airport (POV), Ravenna, Ohio, where he planned to pick up a friend.  ADS-B data indicated that after takeoff from 3G3, the helicopter climbed to about 1,700 ft msl and turned left on a track of about 070° for 15 nautical miles. As the helicopter approached a reservoir, it began a right 360° descending turn, leveled off, and reestablished a northeast track before the data ended (see the figure). According to several witnesses near the accident site, one of whom was located in a fishing boat in the reservoir very close to where the helicopter impacted, the helicopter passed low over the dam, at an estimated altitude of about 20 ft above the water, then proceeded to fly northeast over the water. It was “very dark” at the time of the accident. They observed the helicopter pass overhead, then it impacted power lines that ran roughly perpendicular to the flight path and about 600 ft in length from the northwest shoreline to the southeast shoreline. The impact resulted in a large flash and the helicopter descended in a nose-down attitude into the reservoir. Figure. Final part of the flight path as the helicopter approached the reservoir. The helicopter came to rest in about 20 ft of water, about 200 ft from the northwest shore of the reservoir. The elevation at the accident site was about 1,080 ft msl. The helicopter impacted the top static wire, which was about 50 ft above the water’s surface. Marker balls were not installed on the power lines at the time of the accident. Postaccident examination of the helicopter wreckage showed that the helicopter cockpit area was crushed and there was severe crush damage throughout the entire airframe. Each of the three rotor blades showed signatures consistent with impact damage with the water; however, one blade contained 12 wire striation marks on the leading edge. The damage on the blade penetrated the blade skin. In addition, there were three wire striation marks on the corresponding blade grips. The tail boom remained intact with some torsional twisting damage near the tail rotor gearbox. The tail rotor blades contained marks consistent with a wire strike. There was also a 1-inch area consistent with arc flash damage. The engine was undamaged and secure on its mounts. The panel, position, and beacon light switches were in the On position. According to the United States Naval Observatory, night lighting conditions existed at the time of the accident; the beginning of civil twilight and sunrise occurred at 0710 and 0737, respectively, and the full moon set at 0748.