Drone - Kolliderte med helikopter - Israel - Curt Lewis

Israel reports collision between Robinson R44 helicopter and drone

Date:	14-AUG-2018
Time:	ca 11:00
Type:	Robinson R44 Raven II
Owner/operator:
Registration:	4X-BCR
C/n / msn:	11590
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Minor
Category:	Serious incident
Location:	Petah Tiqwa -    Israel
Phase:	Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.)
Nature:	Agricultural
Departure airport:	Petah Tiqwa
Destination airport:	Petah Tiqwa
Investigating agency:	AIAI

Narrative:
On Tuesday, Aug 14, 2018, about 11:00 Local time a Robinson R44 helicopter operated by an ag company, while spraying an orange field near the city of Petah Tiqwa, collided with a Phantom 4 drone.
The helicopter pilot started his working day at 06:30 am local time. At around 07:05 he took off for a couple of spraying missions, and after two shifts/cycles for refueling and loading the chemical materials, he took off again for his third and last mission of the day, towards an orange field nearby. He started spraying for 20 minutes.
At the same time, a UAS pilot (licensed) who worked for a local building company started his day, for mapping an area under construction, which was adjacent to the orange field where the helicopter sprayed.
Around 11:00 am local time, while the Drone approached one of its site end corners, the drone operator noticed a helicopter maneuvering low and close to the ground (about 30 meters). Immediately he switched to Manual Control Mode and lowered the Drone towards the ground.
At the same time, the helicopter pilot noticed "a white body at approximately 10 meters on his left side", followed by a "bang" feeling that the pilot heard from his lower left side of the helicopter.
Since the helicopter pilot did not feel any degradation in flying the helicopter (no shakes, nor power loss or control problem) he located a nearby landing area and landed normally and safely. At the same time, the drone operator lost communication with the UAS and thought that it crashed either due to the helicopter slipstream or due to heavy landing after the initiation of the rapid / quick descent order.
After exiting the helicopter, the pilot assessed visually the helicopter and found the UAS jammed and broken into the lattice spray system.
After the technical personnel arrival to the scene, they viewed and check the helicopter and the spraying system and found them airworthy. The helicopter resumed its work and landed safely at his home base.

Both operators were working in accordance to the aviation law and by the published regulations. They were properly licensed and adhered to the working altitudes approved and authorized.