# Accident 20180709009429A: Robinson Helicopter R44, Rulo, NE, July 9, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 9, 2018, 20:20 local time
- Place: Rulo, NE
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: 4CDG
- Location: 40.0200° N, 95.4300° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0200&lon=-95.4300&mi=10
- Aircraft: N144DJ, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N144DJ) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 (registry code 7640120, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O-540-F1B5 (registry code 42353, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-540-f1b5) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O-540-F1B5
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 7,500 total, 4,500 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA18CA408](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA408) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180709009429A

## Narrative

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

PILOT HAD BEEN CONDUCTING AERIAL SPRAYING FOR MOST OF THE DAY. AS TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY INCREASED THROUGHOUT THE DAY, POWER MARGIN DECREASED. AS THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO TAKEOFF FROM THE PAD ON TOP OF THE CHEMICAL TRUCK, PILOT PULLED "A LITTLE TO QUICKLY AND TOO MUCH ON THE COLLECTIVE" WHICH EXCEEDED THE POWER AVAILABLE FOR THE CONDITIONS. THIS RESULTED IN ROTOR AND ENGINE RPM DECAY, LEADING TO A LOSS OF LIFT DURING A CRITICAL TIME. THE PILOT TRIED TO REGAIN RPM, BUT DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH ALTITUDE AND CONTACTED SOFT GROUND WITH ABOUT 5 KNOTS FORWARD SPEED. BECAUSE THE SKIDS DID NOT SLIDE IN THE SOFT DIRT, THE AIRCRAFT PITCHED FORWARD AND THE MAIN ROTOR BEGAN TO CONTACT THE GROUND OFF THE NOSE. THE PILOT REACTED BY APPLYING AFT CYCLIC WHICH CAUSED THE MAIN ROTOR TO CONTACT/SEVER THE TAIL. THIS CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO YAW AND ROLL ONTO ITS LEFT SIDE.

## 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 GAA18CA408](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA408), Jul 10, 2018: Robinson R44 (N144DJ), Rulo, NE, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper collective application, which resulted in low rotor rpm during the takeoff climb and a subsequent ground collision. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s self-induced…

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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