# Accident 20230731010519A: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Arcola, IL, July 31, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 31, 2023, 16:06 local time
- Place: Arcola, IL
- Airport: Tuscola
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Other, Specify
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: 1KRG
- Location: 39.7173° N, 88.3582° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7173&lon=-88.3582&mi=10
- Aircraft: N644ME, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N644ME) (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: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 400 total, 8 in this make and model, 27 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN23LA341](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA341) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230731010519A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT WAS ENGAGED IN PART 137 AGRICULTURAL SPRAYING. THE PILOT STATED THAT THEY CLEARED THE FIELD WITH A SURVEY PASS. DURING THE FIRST SPRAY PASS PARALLEL TO A TREE LINE, THE PILOT INITIATED A CLIMBING MANUVER AND STRUCK AN OVERHANGING TREE LIMB LEADING TO LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT STATED THAT THEY INITIATED THE CLIMB TO AVOID WHAT THEY MISTAKENLY BELIEVED TO BE POWERLINE AHEAD IN THE FLIGHT PATH.

## 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 CEN23LA341](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA341), Jul 31, 2023: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (N644ME), Arthur, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from trees during a low-level aerial application 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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