# Accident 20240704010619A: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, New Florence, MO, July 4, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 4, 2024, 18:30 local time
- Place: New Florence, MO
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Climb
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: TRNG
- Location: 38.9190° N, 91.4890° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9190&lon=-91.4890&mi=10
- Aircraft: N225AM, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N225AM) (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, flight instructor, private pilot, student
- Pilot flight hours: 1,195 total, 324 in this make and model, 122 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN24LA252](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA252) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240704010619A

## Narrative

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

THE AIRMAN WAS CONDUCTING PART 137 SPRAY OPERATIONS AND MADE A CLEANUP PASS ALONG THE EDGE OF A FIELD, DESCENDING TO APPROXIMATELY 15 FEET ABOVE THE VEGETATION. AFTER COMPLETING THE PASS, THE AIRMAN ATTEMPTED TO CLIMB ABOVE A ROW OF TREES. DURING THIS MANEUVER, THE TAIL ROTOR STRUCK A TREE BRANCH, CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO ENTER AN UNCONTROLLABLE SPIN. THE AIRCRAFT SPUN TWO TO THREE TIMES BEFORE IMPACTING THE GROUND AND COMING TO REST 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 CEN24LA252](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA252), Jul 4, 2024: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (N225AM), New Florence, MO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain proper altitude/clearance from a dead tree limb during an aerial application flight.

## Other reports on N225AM (1)

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

- [Incident 20230621009909I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230621009909I), Jun 21, 2023: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II (N225AM), Clarkson, NE, Minor damage. Pilot was conducting part 137 operations. Pilot performed a low recon of a field and did not see a cable ran to a fixture in the field. Helicopter contacted…

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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