NTSB Factual Report

On July 22, 2016, about 1600 central daylight time, a Bell OH-58A helicopter, N288NS, sustained substantial damage when it struck a wire and the ground during an aerial application pass near Lake Mills, Iowa. The pilot received minor injuries. The helicopter was registered to North Star Holdings, Inc., and operated by North Star Helicopters, Inc. under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an agricultural flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not on a flight plan. The local flight originated from a farm near Northwood, Iowa, about 1430.

The pilot reported that the while spraying a field, he hit a wire that he did not see. The wire went into the upper wire cutter, bringing the helicopter to a stop, and then the wire broke. He flew the helicopter to the ground, hitting hard and the helicopter flipped onto its side. He reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions of the helicopter.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's inadequate visual lookout, which resulted in a wire strike.