# Accident 20170707011239A: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Pocahontas, IL, July 7, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 7, 2017, 16:15 local time
- Place: Pocahontas, IL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: 3JXG
- Location: 38.7508° N, 89.5408° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7508&lon=-89.5408&mi=10
- Aircraft: N62FA, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N62FA-2017-12-11) (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, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 1,640 total, 715 in this make and model, 16 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA17CA398](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA398) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170707011239A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT SUBMITTED A STATEMENT THAT DURING A "RESUPPLY" OF APPLICATION CHEMICAL, THERE WAS A MISCOMMUNICATION/MISUNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE PILOT AN GROUND CREW (TENDER).  THE PILOT MISTAKENLY BELIEVED THAT THE CHEMICAL SUPPLY HOSE HAD BEEN DISCONNECTED.  BASED ON THIS BELIEF, HE BEGAN THE TAKE-OFF TO CONTINUE OPERATIONS.   THE SUPPLY HOSE WAS STILL CONNECTED.  THIS CAUSED THE HELICOPTER TO "PULL" IN THE DIRECTION OF THE SUPPLY TRUCK.  THE HELICOPTER SUBSEQUENTLY HIT THE SUPPLY TRUCK WITH THE MAIN ROTOR AND CAME TO REST NEXT TO THE TRUCK.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED IN THE ACCIDENT.

## 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 GAA17CA398](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA398), Jul 7, 2017: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (N62FA), Pocahontas, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The helicopter pilot’s miscommunication with the ground crewmember during reloading operations, which resulted in a takeoff with the filler hose attached to the helicopter and subsequent impact with…

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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