RotorAlert
Incidents→Wire strike
Probable cause

Wire strike helicopter accidents

Incidents where the helicopter struck power lines, cables, or other suspended wires.

Total incidents
175
Confirmed fatalities
150
Fatal incidents
77
Fatal rate
44.0%
Most affected countries
Most affected aircraft
Bell32 incidents
Robinson30 incidents
Eurocopter12 incidents
Hughes8 incidents
Schweizer5 incidents

How many helicopter crashes are caused by wire strike?

175 incidents in this database are attributed to wire strike, causing 150 deathsacross 77 fatal accidents, between 1967 and 2026.

Where does this happen most?

Most often in United States, with 111 records, then Portugal with 12.

DateLocationAircraftFatalitiesSeveritySource
2026-09-27🇺🇸Ozona, United StatesRobinson R44 Raven II—minorFAA ↗
2026-09-23🇺🇸Lesterville, United StatesMagni M16 Tandem Trainer2fatalKSDK ↗
2026-08-26🇮🇹near Antrona Schieranco, ItalyMagni M16 Tandem Trainer2fatalLa Stampa ↗
2026-07-16🇺🇸St. Joseph, United StatesBell 206B—seriousWCIA ↗
2026-07-11🇵🇱Trzebiatów, PolandRobinson R44—minorTVP World ↗
2026-04-16🇫🇷Saint-Julien-de-Concelles, FranceBell 47G-2—minorBEA ↗
2026-03-18🇪🇸near Pinos Genil, Granada, SpainEurocopter EC 120B Colibri—minorGranada Hoy ↗
2026-01-08🇺🇸Myakka City, United States—1fatalmysuncoast.c ↗
2026-01-02🇪🇸Vinebre, Tarragona, SpainEurocopter EC135P2+—minor3Cat ↗
2026-01-02🇺🇸Superior, United StatesHughes 369FF4fatalNTSB ↗
2025-12-29🇿🇦Spitsbak Citrus Farm, near Hankey, South AfricaRobinson R44 Raven II—minorSACAA
2025-11-10🇿🇦Roodegrond farm, near Patensie, South AfricaRobinson R22 Beta II1fatalThe South Af ↗
2025-05-02🇪🇸near Tanes, Caso, SpainAirbus Helicopters H125—seriousCIAIAC ↗
2025-03-19🇺🇸Mountain Home Park, United StatesBell 206B II1fatalNTSB ↗
2025-03-14🇺🇸Mogadore, United StatesSchweizer 269C1fatalNTSB ↗
2024-12-29🇬🇹near Ixcán, GuatemalaBell 407GX2fatalSoy502 ↗
2024-09-29🇪🇸near Monte Picayo, Puçol, Valencia, SpainBell 206B III3fatalCIAIAC ↗
2024-07-29🇺🇸Nashua, United StatesBell 2061fatalNTSB ↗
2023-12-05🇺🇸Calexico, United StatesRobinson R44 II—unknownNTSB CAROL ↗
2023-10-08🇺🇸Saint Peter, United StatesGyro Technic GT-VX21fatalNTSB ↗
2023-07-31🇺🇸Oakdale, United StatesBell UH-1H1fatalNTSB ↗
2023-07-30🇺🇸Denison, United StatesBell 206B1fatalNTSB CAROL ↗
2023-07-29🇺🇸Springfield, United StatesBell 206L-41fatalNTSB ↗
2023-07-13🇺🇸Atchison, United StatesHughes 369D—unknownNTSB CAROL ↗
2023-07-05🇺🇸Amity, United StatesBell 206L-1—seriousNTSB CAROL ↗
2023-07-05🇺🇸Chapman, United StatesBell 206B—unknownNTSB CAROL ↗
2023-05-21🇦🇫Sayyad, Khulm district, AfghanistanMD Helicopters MD530F Cayuse Warrior2fatalAssociated Press
2023-02-05🇺🇸Yakima, United StatesSchweizer 269C—unknownNTSB CAROL ↗
2022-09-01🇵🇹Amares, PortugalBell 412—seriousCorreio da M ↗
2022-08-23🇺🇸Whiteside, United StatesBell 206B2fatalNTSB CAROL ↗
2022-08-16🇺🇸Millville, United StatesRobinson R66—unknownNTSB CAROL ↗
2022-08-05🇺🇸Maynard, United StatesRobinson R44 II—unknownNTSB CAROL ↗
2022-07-31🇺🇸Marshall, United StatesRobinson R44 II—unknownNTSB CAROL ↗
2022-07-28🇺🇸Ithaca, United StatesRobinson R44 II—unknownNTSB CAROL ↗
2022-07-27🇺🇸Bloomsburg, United StatesBell OH-58A+—unknownNTSB CAROL ↗
2022-07-26🇺🇸Hamilton, United StatesEurocopter AS365—minorNTSB CAROL ↗
2022-07-25🇪🇸Cerezo de Mohernando, Guadalajara, SpainAirbus Helicopters H125—seriousCIAIAC ↗
2022-07-20🇪🇸Sierra Norte de Guadalajara Natural Park, SpainEurocopter AS 350B3 Ecureuil—seriousCIAIAC ↗
2022-07-19🇺🇸Franklin, United StatesBell 206L-3—unknownNTSB CAROL ↗
2022-07-12🇵🇹Penajoia, PortugalEurocopter AS 350B3 Ecureuil—minorGPIAAF ↗
2022-07-06🇺🇸Wenatchee, United StatesHiller UH-12E—seriousNTSB CAROL ↗
2022-04-01🇺🇸Merced, United StatesBell OH-58A—minorNTSB CAROL ↗
2022-03-18🇺🇸Loxahatchee, United StatesHughes 3692fatalNTSB CAROL ↗
2021-07-19🇺🇸Elgin, United StatesRobinson R441fatalNTSB ↗
2021-06-25🇺🇸Alpine, United StatesBell OH-58A+1fatalNTSB ↗
2021-05-18🇺🇸Ulysses, United StatesBell OH-58A1fatalNTSB ↗
2021-05-02🇺🇸Wingate, United StatesRobinson R441fatalNTSB ↗
2020-08-16🇦🇹Gnas, AustriaAutoGyro MTOsport—minorKleine Zeitu ↗
2020-07-11🇪🇸Marroxo, Lugo, SpainBell 412—minorCIAIAC ↗
2020-06-18🇺🇸Pikeville, United StatesRobinson R661fatalNTSB ↗
2020-06-02🇺🇸Fairfield, United StatesBell 2063fatalNTSB ↗
2020-03-31🇺🇸Audubon, United StatesRobinson R44 II2fatalNTSB ↗
2019-11-04🇬🇧Robins Farm, Chiddingfold, Surrey, United KingdomLeonardo AW109SP—minorAAIB ↗
2019-10-17🇺🇸New Salem, United StatesBell 2061fatalNTSB CAROL ↗
2019-09-05🇵🇹Valongo, PortugalEurocopter AS350B2 Ecureuil1fatalPúblico ↗
2019-08-02🇺🇸Vandalia, United StatesRobinson R66—unknownNTSB CAROL ↗
2019-06-29🇺🇸Parsons, United StatesRobinson R44—seriousNTSB CAROL ↗
2019-04-20🇺🇸St Jacob, United StatesRobinson R66—seriousNTSB ↗
2019-04-20🇺🇸St Jacob, United StatesRobinson R66—seriousNTSB CAROL ↗
2019-01-03🇺🇸Grace, United StatesRobinson R44—unknownNTSB CAROL ↗
2018-12-29🇦🇪Jebel Jais, Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab EmiratesLeonardo AW1394fatalReuters ↗
2018-11-16🇺🇸Verbena, United StatesBell OH-58C2fatalNTSB CAROL ↗
2018-10-27🇺🇸Carson City, United StatesBell OH-58A—minorNTSB CAROL ↗
2018-08-22🇺🇸Ridgeway, United StatesHughes 369—unknownNTSB CAROL ↗
2018-08-21🇺🇸Granger, United StatesHughes 3692fatalNTSB CAROL ↗
2018-08-15🇿🇦Queenstown, South AfricaRobinson R221fatalNTSB ↗
2018-07-27🇺🇸Elma, United StatesRobinson R44—minorNTSB CAROL ↗
2018-06-17🇺🇸Orondo, United StatesBell 206—unknownNTSB CAROL ↗
2017-11-20🇺🇸Electra, United StatesRobinson R22 Beta1fatalNTSB CAROL ↗
2017-11-06🇺🇸Larchwood, United StatesRobinson R44—seriousNTSB CAROL ↗
2017-10-13🇺🇸Canton, United StatesEurocopter BK117—unknownNTSB ↗
2017-09-25🇭🇺Őrbottyán, HungaryEurocopter EC135T2—minorTSB Hungary ↗
2017-09-17🇺🇸Salinas, United StatesBell 47G-5—minorNTSB CAROL ↗
2017-08-20🇵🇹Castro Daire, PortugalEurocopter AS 350B3 Ecureuil1fatalPúblico ↗
2017-08-14🇺🇸Westby, United StatesRobinson R44—unknownNTSB CAROL ↗
2017-08-10🇩🇿5km SW of Douera, AlgeriaBell 206L-34fatalTSA Algérie
2017-07-06🇺🇸Dixon, United StatesBell 206—unknownNTSB CAROL ↗
2017-06-23🇬🇷Schinias Marathonas, GreeceHughes 5002fatalNTSB ↗
2017-06-13🇩🇿Mekmen Ben Amar, AlgeriaEurocopter AS 355 Ecureuil II2fatalDZ Breaking
2017-05-21🇩🇿Ahmer El Ain, AlgeriaLeonardo AW101 Merlin3fatalEl Watan
2017-05-10🇺🇸Vevay, United StatesRobinson R44—unknownNTSB CAROL ↗
2017-05-07🇺🇸Waterloo, United StatesBell OH-58A+—unknownNTSB CAROL ↗
2017-04-13🇱🇸Thaba Putsoa, LesothoEurocopter EC135T2+4fatalScramble ↗
2017-03-22🇸🇿Mhlume, EswatiniBell 206—seriousFlyAfrica fo ↗
2017-02-19🇬🇧Sandwich Bay Estate, Kent, United KingdomBell 206B III—minorAAIB ↗
2016-08-07🇷🇺Voronezhskaya oblast, RussiaRobinson R66—seriousNTSB ↗
2016-07-22🇺🇸Lake Mills, United StatesBell OH-58A—minorNTSB CAROL ↗
2016-07-16🇪🇸Madrid, SpainRobinson R222fatalNTSB ↗
2016-05-21🇺🇸Waitsburg, United StatesBell OH-58—unknownNTSB CAROL ↗
2016-05-05🇧🇷Sao Paulo, BrazilRobinson R222fatalNTSB ↗
2015-11-20🇵🇹Ponte de Sor, PortugalSchweizer 269C—seriousCorreio da M ↗
2015-10-11🇦🇫Resolute Support HQ, Kabul, AfghanistanWestland Puma HC.25fatalUK Service Inquiry
2015-10-05🇺🇸Devine, United StatesRobinson R44 II—unknownNTSB ↗
2015-08-05🇺🇸Atkinson, United StatesSchweizer 269B—seriousNTSB ↗
2015-07-16🇵🇹Odemira, PortugalEurocopter AS350B2 Ecureuil—minorGPIAAF ↗
2015-07-01🇺🇸Asotin, United StatesSchweizer 269C2fatalNTSB ↗
2014-09-06🇺🇸Macedonia, United StatesRobinson R44 II1fatalNTSB ↗
2014-08-27🇺🇸Gardnerville, United StatesRobinson R22 Beta—seriousNTSB ↗
2014-08-19🇺🇸Northport, United StatesHughes 369E2fatalNTSB ↗
2014-08-18🇺🇸Saint Peter, United StatesHughes 369HS—unknownNTSB ↗

Showing 100 most recent of 175 total incidents.

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