# Accident 20150513007699A: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Columbia, IL, May 13, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 13, 2015, 18:30 local time
- Place: Columbia, IL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: 8PRG
- Location: 38.4128° N, 90.2233° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.4128&lon=-90.2233&mi=10
- Aircraft: N165RV, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N165RV-2018-09-21) (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
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN15LA231](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA231) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150513007699A

## Narrative

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

ON MAY 13, 2015, AT 1845 HOURS LOCAL, AT 9475 D ROAD, COLUMBIA, ILLINOIS, THE PILOT WAS CONDUCTING AGRICULTURAL SPRAYING IN R-44 II, N165RV. AS THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED THE FIELD FOR A SPRAYING PASS, THE ENGINE ABRUPTLY STOPPED RUNNING. THE PILOT SAID HE HEARD A LOW ROTOR HORN. HE IMMEDIATELY ENTERED AUTOROTATION AND COMPLETED THE POWER-OFF LANDING INTO THE FIELD HE WAS SPRAYING. DURING THE LANDING, THE TAIL SECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE GROUND. A PORTION OF THE TAIL SECTION SEPARATED FROM THE FUSELAGE COMING TO REST APPROXIMATELY 18 FEET NORTH NORTHWEST FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THE TAIL ROTOR AND TAIL ROTOR GEAR BOX SEPARATED FROM THE TAIL SECTION AND CONTINUED APPROXIMATELY 150 FEET FROM THE THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT SECURED THE AIRCRAFT, ALL ELECTRICAL SWITCHES, AND TURNED THE FUEL SWITCH OFF AS HE EXITED THE AIRCRAFT. SEVERAL MINUTES LATER, GROUND CREWMEN WHO WERE SERVICING THE AIRCRAFT WITH COMPANY SUPPORT EQUIPMENT BECAME CONCERNED WHEN THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT RETURN. THEY DROVE APPROXIMATELY ONE-HALF MILE TO THE FIELD BEING SPRAYED. THEY OBSERVED THE CRASH SITE AND MET THE PILOT WALKING UP A ROAD APPROXIMATELY THREE HUNDRED YARDS AWAY FROM THE AIRCRAFT.

THIS REPORT WILL BE AMENDED. INVESTIGATION STILL IN PROGRESS.

## 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 CEN15LA231](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA231), May 13, 2015: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (N165RV), Columbia, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power while maneuvering at low altitude for reasons that could not be determined during postaccident examination.

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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