# Accident 20260718010589A: Robinson Helicopter R44, Scribner, NE, July 18, 2026

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 18, 2026, 08:50 local time
- Place: Scribner, NE
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.6253° N, 96.6744° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6253&lon=-96.6744&mi=10
- Aircraft: N26EH, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N26EH) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 (registry code 7640120, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O-540-F1B5 (registry code 42353, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-540-f1b5) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 337 total, 100 in this make and model, 19 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN26LA289](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA289) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260718010589A

## Narrative

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

PILOT STRUCK A POWER LINE WHILE POLLINATING A FIELD WITH A ROTORCRAFT 2 NAUTICAL MILES NORTHWEST OF KSCB RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES AND FORCED AN EMERGENCY LANDING. PILOT NOTED THE POWER LINES ON EAST END OF FIELD WERE CLOSER TO THE CROP ROWS THAN THE WEST SIDE OF THE FIELD AND A CENTER PIVOT LOCATED SOUTH OF THE FIELD WHILE CONDUCTING AN INITIAL CIRCUMFERENCE FLIGHT. SHORTLY BEFORE COMPLETION OF ALL THE ROWS, THE PILOT COMPLETED A ROW, BEGAN TURNING BACK WEST, AND WHILE LOOKING AT THE NEXT TARGET ROW, HEARD AND FELT A BANG. PILOT INSTANTLY KNEW THERE WAS CONTACT WITH THE POWER LINES AND EXECUTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING AS PRIMARY CONCERN WAS LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR. PILOT STATED ROTORCRAFT CAME DOWN MORE ON THE RIGHT SKID, BOUNCED, AND YAWED TO THE RIGHT. PILOT STATED ROTORCRAFT IDLE WOULD NOT GO BELOW 70% IDLE, SO PULLED THE FUEL LEAN SHUT TO SHUT DOWN AND SHUT DOWN ALL ELECTRONICS. PILOT STATED THERE WAS NO FIRE, NOTHING SMELLING HOT, AND NO GAS SMELL. AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES FROM CONTACT WITH THE POWER LINE AND SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO LANDING SKIDS AND ATTACHMENT POINTS, AS WELL AS TO THE FUSELAGE AREA FROM THE LANDING.

## 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 CEN26LA289](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA289), Jul 18, 2026: Robinson Helicopter R44 Raven 1 (N26EH), Scribner, NE, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power lines while maneuvering at low-level altitude during an agricultural operation.

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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