# Accident 20230731014299A: Richards Heavylift Helo Inc UH-1H, Oakdale, IL, July 31, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 31, 2023, 13:05 local time
- Place: Oakdale, IL
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Other, Specify
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: 1KHG
- Location: 38.2543° N, 89.4369° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2543&lon=-89.4369&mi=10
- Aircraft: N567VF, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N567VF) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Richards Heavylift Helo UH-1H (registry code 118142G, https://openairdocs.org/model/richards-heavylift-helo-uh-1h) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming T53-L-13 (registry code 41551, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-t53-l-13) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: RICHARDS HEAVYLIFT HELO INC UH-1H
- Reported engine: LYCOMING T53-L-13
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 7,940 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN23FA340](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23FA340) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230731014299A

## Narrative

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

PILOT WAS FLYING A UH-1H HELICOPTER, SPRAYING A CORNFIELD. DURING A TURNAROUND, THE HELICOPTER INITIATED A CLIMBING LEFT TURN BUT SUDDENLY TURNED RIGHT (INSTEAD OF LEFT TO CONTINUE SPRAYING THE FIELD) AND CRASHED IN A NOSE-LOW ATTITUDE. THE HELICOPTER WAS ON A NORTHERLY HEADING OR TURNING TO THE NORTH AS THE TAIL WAS SPINNING CLOCKWISE. THE MAIN WRECKAGE WAS FACING SOUTH AFTER IMPACT DUE TO THE HELICOPTER SPINNING APPROXIMATELY 180 DEGREES DUE TO SPINNING TAIL BOOM (ACCORDING TO WITNESS AND ADSB DATA). THE HELICOPTER'S TAIL WAS SEVERED AND BROKEN AND SAT APPROXIMATELY 90 DEGREES TO THE FUSELAGE, WITH THE TAIL FACING EASTERLY.  THE MAIN BODY OF THE HELICOPTER WAS ON A SOUTHERLY HEADING. THE MAIN ROTOR SEPARATED AND WAS LYING SLIGHTLY SOUTHWEST OF THE AIRCRAFT'S MAIN BODY BY ROUGHLY 20 FEET. DEBRIS WAS SCATTERED UP TO ROUGHLY 75 FEET FROM THE HELICOPTER'S MAIN IMPACT SITE, ROUGHLY WEST TO NORTH SECTOR FROM THE HELICOPTER'S MAIN IMPACT SITE. THE PILOT HAD BEEN FLYING SINCE 07:14 AM AND APPEARED TO HAVE NO BREAKS (ACCORDING TO ADSB DATA) OTHER THAN REFUELING AND GETTING MORE CHEMICALS UNTIL THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED THE GROUND AT APPROXIMATELY 01:05 PM.  NTSB REPORTED ~25 GALLONS OF JET FUEL WAS DRAINED FROM THE TANK. AGRICULTURAL CHEMICAL WAS STILL FOUND IN THE SPRAY TANKS. A 911 CALL CAME IN AT 01:12 CT, AND THE WITNESS INDICATED THAT THEY HAD SEEN THE HELICOPTER HEADING NORTH WHEN IT HIT THE GROUND AND A BIG PLUME OF BROWN DUST CAME UP. NO FIRE OR SMOKE REPORTED AFTER IMPACT DUST HAD SETTLED. THE HELICOPTER CAME TO REST IN A CORNFIELD AND WAS LOCATED BY POLICE. WEATHER WAS CLEAR WITH 10 MILES VISIBILITY OR GREATER, VMC CONDITIONS WITH WIND 040 AT 6 KNOTS. TEMPERATURE WAS 28, AND DEWPOINT WAS 19 WITH ALTIMETER 30.15, ACCORDING TO THE AWOS AT SPARTA COMMUNITY HUNTER FIELD (KSAR) THE NEAREST AIRPORT.

## 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 CEN23FA340](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23FA340), Jul 31, 2023: Richards Heavylift Helo UH-1H (N567VF), Oakdale, IL, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: An in-flight loss of control for undetermined reasons.

## Other reports on N567VF (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20210510023129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210510023129A), May 10, 2021: Richards Heavylift Helo Inc UH-1H (N567VF), Norris City, IL, Substantial damage. On 05/10/2021 at local time 1330 hrs. Outside Norris City,IL [privacy data omitted] a UH-1H ,s/n 65-10016 helicopter during a hot fueling procedure slid off…

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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