# Accident 20190721015129A: Robinson Helicopter R44, Ida Grove, IA, July 21, 2019

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 21, 2019, 08:45 local time
- Place: Ida Grove, IA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: 1W3G
- Location: 42.3408° N, 95.5381° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3408&lon=-95.5381&mi=10
- Aircraft: N459TA, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N459TA-2019-11-15) (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: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,204 total, 676 in this make and model, 53 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN19LA230](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA230) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190721015129A

## Narrative

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

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.

## 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 CEN19LA230](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA230), Jul 21, 2019: Robinson R44 (N459TA), Ida Grove, IA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power during an aerial application flight for undetermined reasons.

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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