Myrtle Creek Airport: Myrtle Creek, Oregon

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The pilot reported that he was cruising upstream on a river when the airplane "struck the upper power lines (about 80 feet above water) with prop and left gear leg." The aircraft assumed a nose down attitude and then "released itself from the wires." The pilot attempted to recover, but the airplane "pancaked into the river" where it came to rest upright in "knee deep" water. The left wing sustained structural damage, and the right lift strut was bent. (Dillard)

On September 27, 2009, at 1900 Pacific daylight time, an Arrow Falcon Exporters OH-58A+, N298CP, collided with trees during takeoff from a field landing zone, 24 miles west of Myrtle Creek, Oregon. Reforestation Services, Inc., operated the helicopter under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 137. The commercial pilot received minor injuries, and the helicopter was substantially damaged. Visual conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.

The pilot stated to the Safety Board investigator that the helicopter was equipped with agriculture application equipment but the chemical tanks were empty. The purpose of the flight was to survey the area to be sprayed. As the helicopter departed the landing zone the pilot sensed that more power than usual was being required to clear the 10- to 12-foot trees at the edge of the zone. He checked the engine instruments, which indicated normal readings, and 100 percent torque. Once over the trees, between 20 and 30 knots airspeed, the pilot said the helicopter would not accelerate and settled into the trees despite applying full collective. The pilot reported that the wind was about 2 knots from the west; field elevation was about 3,000 feet mean sea level; and the temperature was 74 degrees F. Updated on Oct 1 2009 5:24PM