# Accident 20170708011499A: Robinson Helicopter R44, Jasper, IN, July 8, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 8, 2017, 10:30 local time
- Place: Jasper, IN
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: 2XMG
- Location: 38.4147° N, 86.9994° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.4147&lon=-86.9994&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7224U, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7224U-2017-12-12) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 (registry code 7640120, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540F1 SERIE (registry code 41531, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540f1-serie) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-540F1 SERIE
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN17LA267](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA267) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170708011499A

## Narrative

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

ON JULY 8, 2017 AT APPROXIMATELY 10:35 EASTERN STANDARD TIME, A ROBINSON R-44, N7224U WAS DESTROYED FOLLOWING COLLISION WITH THE GROUND WHILE CONDUCTING AGRICULTURE OPERATIONS NEAR 6886 W 450 N JASPER, INDIANA. THE COMMERCIAL  RATED PILOT AND SOLE OCCUPANT OF THE AIRCRAFT SUFFERED SERIOUS INJURIES. THE AIRCRAFT WAS REGISTERED TO J.R. AVIATION, INC AND WAS BEING OPERATED UNDER PROVISIONS OF 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS (CFR) PART 137 AS AN AGRICULTURAL FLIGHT. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS TO CONDUCT 14 CFR 137 AERIAL APPLICATION CROP DUSTING OPERATIONS, SPRAYING FUNGICIDE ON A LOCAL CORNFIELD.

THERE WERE NO WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT AND THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH HIS GROUND CREW VIA CELLPHONE BEFORE HE EXITED THE AIRCRAFT, WHICH WAS THEN CONSUMED BY FIRE. A 911 CALL WAS MADE TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AT 10:39 LOCAL TIME.

GROUND CREW PERSONNEL STATED THEY HAD BEGUN WORKING IN THE FIELD AT APPROXIMATELY 08:15 LOCAL TIME, WITH NO ISSUES  NOTED BEFORE THE ACCIDENT.

OBSERVATION AT THE SCENE SHOWED THE AIRCRAFT APPEARED TO BE MAKING POWER PRIOR TO STRIKING THE GROUND APPROXIMATELY 175 FEET FROM THE END OF THE FIELD THAT HE WAS SPRAYING. THERE WERE NO POWER LINES OR OTHER OBSTACLES IN THE VICINITY OF THE ACCIDENT SITE.

THE STATEMENT FROM THE GROUND CREW SHOWED THE PILOT TO BE IN A GOOD MOOD, TO BE LOOKING FORWARD TO FLYING THAT MORNING AND APPEARED TO BE IN GOOD PHYSICAL CONDITION.

INVESTIGATORS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO INTERVIEW THE PILOT DUE TO INJURIES. THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT IS UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME.

THE NTSB WAS NOTIFIED AND DECLINED TO BE REPRESENTED ON 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 CEN17LA267](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA267), Jul 8, 2017: Robinson Helicopter R44 (N7224U), Ireland, IN, destroyed. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to apply the proper procedures to recover from a loss of tail rotor effectiveness, which resulted in a loss of control during an aerial application turn.

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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