# Accident 20250625012139A: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Hawesville, KY, June 25, 2025

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 25, 2025, 10:41 local time
- Place: Hawesville, KY
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: 5WKG
- Location: 37.7642° N, 86.7765° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7642&lon=-86.7765&mi=10
- Aircraft: N144WK, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N144WK) (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
- Pilot flight hours: 800 total, 650 in this make and model, 35 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA25LA240](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA240) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250625012139A

## Narrative

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

HELICOPTER WAS PERFORMING AGRICULTURAL SPRAYING OF A CORN FIELD WHEN THE MAIN ROTOR MAST STRUCK A UTILITY POWER LINE. THE IMPACT SEVERED THE BLADE LINKS, AND THE FUSELAGE IMPACTED THE GROUND ON THE LEFT SIDE IN THE DIRECTION OF FLIGHT. THE PILOT SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT. THERE WAS NO POST ACCIDENT FIRE OR DAMAGE TO PROPERTY ON THE GROUND.

## 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 ERA25LA240](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA240), Jun 25, 2025: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (N144WK), Hawesville, KY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from power lines during low-level agricultural spray operations.

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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