# Accident 20210716006909A: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Lewisburg, KY, July 16, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 16, 2021, 11:22 local time
- Place: Lewisburg, KY
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: 64RG
- Location: 37.0714° N, 87.7597° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0714&lon=-87.7597&mi=10
- Aircraft: N512RT, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N512RT) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (registry code 7640122, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5 (registry code 41899, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-ae1a5) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-540-AE1A5
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 10,557 total, 104 in this make and model, 26 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA21LA292](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA292) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210716006909A

## Narrative

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

ACCORDING TO THE PASSENGER, ON THE THIRD LOAD THE HELICOPTER CAME OFF THE TRUCK, TURNED DIRECTLY INTO THE WIND. AS THE AIRCRAFT CLEARED THE POWER LINES THE LOW RPM LIGHT CAME ON. PILOT KEPT IT INTO THE WIND LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO LAND. HELICOPTER CROSSED THE HIGHWAY AND A TREE LINE. THE FIELD DIRECTLY BELOW WAS TO NARROW. THE NEXT TREE LINE WAS A LITTLE TALLER. THE LEFT SIDE SPRAY BOOM MADE CONTACT WITH A TREE. THERE WAS SOY BEAN FIELD DIRECTLY BELOW. PILOT MADE THE APPROACH & FLARED. THE HELICOPTER MADE CONTACT SKIDS FIRST IN LINE WITH THE DIRECTION OF MOTION. IT BOUNCED ONE TIME & LANDED ON 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 ERA21LA292](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA292), Jul 16, 2021: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (N512RT), Princeton, KY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate preflight planning in that he failed to accurately determine the takeoff weight of the helicopter, which resulted in exceeding the helicopter’s maximum weight capability.

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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