20190721015129A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Robinson Helicopter R44 · Ida Grove, IA · July 21, 2019

Date: July 21, 2019 · 08:45 local
Place: Ida Grove, IA
Phase of flight: Maneuver
Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
Operator: 1W3G
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N459TA
NTSB investigation: NTSBCEN19LA230
Reported as: Robinson Helicopter R44
Reported engine: Lycoming O-540-F1B5
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 1
Pilot’s certificate: Commercial pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,204 total676 in this make and model53 in the last 90 days

N459TARegistration cancelled Nov 15, 2019 · Robinson Helicopter R44S/N 1514 · Built 2005 Airframe modelRobinson Helicopter R44 Engine modelLycoming O-540-F1B5Reciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Maneuvering through a shallow right turn, followed by left teardrop turn and alignment of next spray run. The pilot experienced loss of tail rotor control and low main rotor RPM. Attempting emergency recovery efforts at low altitude the pilot was unsuccessful and ended up crashing in bean field.

As the FAA filed it

MANEUVERING THROUGH A SHALLOW RIGHT TURN, FOLLOWED BY LEFT TEARDROP TURN AND ALIGNMENT OF NEXT SPRAY RUN. THE PILOT EXPERIENCED LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR CONTROL AND LOW MAIN ROTOR RPM. ATTEMPTING EMERGENCY RECOVERY EFFORTS AT LOW ALTITUDE THE PILOT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL AND ENDED UP CRASHING IN BEAN FIELD.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB CEN19LA230Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportIda Grove, IAA total loss of engine power during an aerial application flight for undetermined reasons.Jul 21, 2019 · Substantial damage