# Accident 20260809012429A: Robinson Helicopter R44, Macedonia, IA, August 9, 2026

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 9, 2026, 11:30 local time
- Place: Macedonia, IA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Departure Roll
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: 4CDG
- Location: 41.1030° N, 95.3171° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1030&lon=-95.3171&mi=10
- Aircraft: N197HL, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N197HL) (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
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O-540-F1B5
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,201 total, 1,600 in this make and model, 228 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC26LA082](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC26LA082) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260809012429A

## Narrative

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

AIRCRAFT FAILED TO MAINTAIN A POSITIVE RATE-OF-CLIMB AND ADEQUATE ROTOR RPM AFTER TAKEOFF FROM THE TENDER TRUCK RESULTING IN HARD LANDING IN CORN FIELD.

## 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 ANC26LA082](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC26LA082), Aug 9, 2026: Robinson Helicopter R44 (N197HL), Macedonia, IA, substantial damage, investigation ongoing

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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