# Accident 20200727010669A: Robinson Helicopter R44, Hebron, NE, July 27, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 27, 2020, 15:30 local time
- Place: Hebron, NE
- Airport: Hebron Municipal
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: 2KWG
- Location: 40.1519° N, 97.5844° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1519&lon=-97.5844&mi=10
- Aircraft: N771GB, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N771GB-2022-09-03) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 (registry code 7640120, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540 series (registry code 41532, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-540 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 2,885 total, 415 in this make and model, 60 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN20CA316](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA316) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200727010669A

## Narrative

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

ON JULY 27, 2020 AT APPROXIMATELY 15:30 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, A ROBINSON R44 HELICOPTER WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DUE TO IMPACT WITH TERRAIN SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AT THE HEBRON, NEBRASKA (HJH) MUNICIPAL AIRPORT HEADING TO A NEARBY FIELD TO SPRAY.

AFTER THE FIRST ROUND OF SPRAYING, THE HELICOPTER RETURNED TO THE HEBRON MUNICIPAL AIRPORT TO RE-FUEL. THE HELICOPTER WAS FUELED FROM A TRAILER-MOUNTED TANK, WHICH HAD BEEN FILLED FROM THE OPERATORS SECONDARY TANK, INSTEAD OF THE PRIMARY REFUELING TANK.

THE PILOT THEN HELPED GET THE TRAILERS READY WITH A NEW LOAD OF CHEMICALS AND THEN HAD LUNCH.  FOLLOWING LUNCH, THE PILOT STARTED UP THE HELICOPTER NORMALLY, THE PILOT STATED HE DID NOT SUMP THE FUEL TANKS DURING HIS PRE-FLIGHT CHECKS.  HE RAN THROUGH HIS POST STARTUP CHECKLISTS AND EVERYTHING CHECKED NORMAL.  HE SPOOLED UP TO 100% AND TOOK OFF TOWARDS THE NW TO AVOID POWER LINES, AND ONCE CLEAR TURNED BACK TO THE NORTH AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND CLIMB.

AT APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET, THE LOW ROTOR LIGHT AND HORN CAME ON, PILOT LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE AND ROLLED ON THE THROTTLE.  WITH NO CHANGE, HE CONTINUED TO LOWER COLLECTIVE AND ROLL ON MORE THROTTLE.  AFTER APPROX. 2-3 SECONDS IN A DESCENT WITH ROTOR RPM CONTINUING TO DROP, COLLECTIVE WAS FULLDOWN AND ENGINE TAC HAD DROPPED TO 0, AND THE SOUND OF THE ENGINE WAS GONE.  THE PILOT THEN LEVELED THE HELICOPTER TO TRY AND PERFORM AN AUTOROTATION, WITH NO ALTITUDE LEFT TO MANEUVER, HE WENT STRAIGHT INTO THE CORN FIELD.  WHEN HE FLARED AT THE BOTTOM, HE EXPERIENCED VIOLENT SHAKING AND A VERY HARD LANDING.

THE ROTOR BLADES CUT OFF TAIL BOOM, THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED AND ROTATED COUNTER CLOCKWISE AND ROLLED ONTO RIGHT SIDE FACING 180 DEGREES FROM POINT OF IMPACT. PILOT EVACUATED AIRCRAFT WITHOUT ASSISTANCE.

## 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 CEN20CA316](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA316), Jul 27, 2020: Robinson R44 (N771GB), Hebron, NE, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power due to water contamination in the fuel system. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inadequate preflight to sump the fuel tanks prior to flight.

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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