# Accident 20230726008029A: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Charles City, IA, July 26, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 26, 2023, 13:30 local time
- Place: Charles City, IA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: 4B9G
- Location: 43.0235° N, 92.7671° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.0235&lon=-92.7671&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4174L, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4174L) (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: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,000 total, 1,150 in this make and model, 200 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN23LA326](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA326) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230726008029A

## Narrative

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

HELICOPTER RETURNED TO TENDER TRUCK FOR LOAD OF PRODUCT AND FUEL. SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTING TENDER TRUCK HELICOPTER DESCENDED INTO A CORN 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 CEN23LA326](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA326), Jul 26, 2023: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (N4174L), Charles City, IA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper preflight of the helicopter to ensure that it was within the loading and performance limitations that resulted in settling and impact with terrain during initial climb.

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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