# Accident 20120714015549A: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Red Oak, IA, July 14, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 14, 2012, 18:00 local time
- Place: Red Oak, IA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: 1JHG
- Location: 41.0861° N, 95.2631° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0861&lon=-95.2631&mi=10
- Aircraft: N556MM, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N556MM-2017-10-20) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (registry code 7640122, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540 series (registry code 41530, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-540 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,326 total, 562 in this make and model, 86 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN12LA443](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA443) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120714015549A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

THE AIRMAN DEPARTED AN AGRICULTURAL FIELD SITE AFTER SERVICING THE AIRCRAFT WITH CHEMICALS FOR AERIAL APPLICATION.  WHILE FLYING AWAY THE AIRMAN NOTED THAT THE EXTERNALLY MOUNTED GASOLINE ENGINE USED TO POWER THE SPRAY EQUIPMENT HAD STALLED.  HE RETURNED TO THE SAME FIELD SITE TO LAND AND CORRECT THE PROBLEM.  WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TERMINATE THE APPROACH TO THE GROUND THE AIRCRAFTS MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE LANDING PAD STRUCTURE ON THE AGRICULTURAL SUPPORT VEHICLE PARKED NEARBY.  THIS IMPACT CAUSED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT WHEN THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES WERE COMPROMISED STRUCTURALLY AND CUT OFF THE AIRCRAFTS TAIL BOOM AND CAUSED ADDITIONAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFTS FUSELAGE.  NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED TO THE PILOT OR PERSONS ON THE GROUND IN THE VICINITY OF THIS SITE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CEN12LA443](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA443), Jul 14, 2012: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (N556MM), Red Oak, IA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the ground-support vehicle during landing.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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