# NTSB investigations: Lycoming IO-540 series: Low altitude operation/event

NTSB aviation accident and incident investigations since 1962: the probable cause, findings, aircraft, crew, weather and docket of each, linked to the FAA registry and the FAA’s own reports.

## Latest cases

- [NTSB CEN26LA148](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA148.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Stonewall, TX · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report · Mar 24, 2026 · N233JD · Substantial damage
  > On March 24, 2026, about 0930 central daylight time, a Robinson R44 II helicopter, N233JD, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Stonewall, Texas. The pilot and passenger were seriously injured. The helicopter was operated as a…
- [NTSB CEN26LA101](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA101.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Sullivan, MO · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jan 29, 2026 · N916VK · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from powerlines during low-level operations.
- [NTSB CEN25FA019](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25FA019.md): Robinson R44 · Houston, TX · Accident · 4 fatal · Class 2 · Field · Final report · Oct 21, 2024 · N881KE · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a lighted radio tower during a visual night flight. Contributing to the accident was the air traffic controller’s failure to issue a safety alert notifying the pilot of the flight’s unsafe proximity to the tower.
- [NTSB CEN22LA366](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA366.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Maynard, IA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Aug 5, 2022 · N619RB · Substantial damage
  > An impact with a powerline as a result of an unexpected wind gust.
- [NTSB CEN22LA345](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA345.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Ithaca, NE · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 28, 2022 · N719TF · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from power lines during low level aerial application operations due to a distraction.
- [NTSB WPR20CA197](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA197.md): Robinson R44 · Pioche, NV · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report · Jun 28, 2020 · N7530B · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s decision to fly at low level over mountainous terrain and his inability to recover when the helicopter encountered a downdraft that resulted in a collision with terrain.
- [NTSB CEN17CA346](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17CA346.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Logan, IA · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 20, 2017 · N192E · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a wire during an agricultural application flight.
- [NTSB CEN16FA215](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16FA215.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Jonesboro, AR · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jun 12, 2016 · N789MR · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to maintain helicopter control during takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's impairment due to his combined use of alcohol and diphenhydramine, which led to his improper decision to fly after drinking alcohol and degraded…
- [NTSB CEN14LA487](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA487.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Macedonia, IA · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 6, 2014 · N699TQ · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s inadequate visual lookout, which resulted in a collision with a static line.
- [NTSB WPR14CA270](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA270.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Quincy, WA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jun 27, 2014 · N560LH · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a wind generator tower while drying cherries, which resulted in a loss of aircraft control and subsequent hard landing.
- [NTSB WPR12LA259](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA259.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · East Wenatchee, WA · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 12, 2012 · N282MC · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to adequately monitor the environment and maintain clearance from the power lines while maneuvering at low altitude.
- [NTSB WPR11LA179](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA179.md): Eagle DW1 · Newman, CA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Apr 1, 2011 · N8812A · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s inadequate visual lookout and failure to maintain clearance from a vehicle during a low-altitude operation.
- [NTSB WPR11FA027](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11FA027.md): Reed Glasair III SH-3R · Lake Mathews, CA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 23, 2010 · N2XZ · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from terrain while maneuvering at low altitude beneath a cloud layer.
- [NTSB CEN10FA162](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10FA162.md): Maule M-6-235 · Bennett, CO · Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report · Jan 30, 2010 · N7613X · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a utility line while maneuvering.
- [NTSB WPR09CA470](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA470.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Mt Charleston, NV · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Sep 28, 2009 · N29LE · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control and terrain clearance while maneuvering at a low altitude above high terrain. Contributing to the accident was a downdraft and high density altitude.
- [NTSB WPR09CA224](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA224.md): Robinson R44 · Cottonwood, AZ · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · May 3, 2009 · N441CB · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's inadequate visual lookout and failure to maintain clearance from wires.
- [NTSB WPR09CA105](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA105.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Bountiful, UT · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Feb 1, 2009 · N944U · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's improper decision to fly at low altitude while maneuvering in mountainous terrain in a canyon and inadvertently exceeding the climb capability of the helicopter. Contributing to the accident were a high density altitude, mountainous terrain, and a…
- [NTSB SEA08LA070](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08LA070.md): Kidd Chris Harmon ROC · Maricopa, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Feb 2, 2008 · N96KR · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate terrain clearance altitude while maneuvering in mountainous, hilly terrain. Contributing to the accident were hilly terrain, a low ceiling and gusty winds.

## The whole list in SQL

Runs in DuckDB 1.2 or later on the release's Parquet files over HTTPS:

```sql
SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url
FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1
WHERE c."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.engine_model_code IN ('41530', '41585')
    AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' e WHERE e.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND e.aircrafts_position = x.position AND e."isDefiningEvent" AND e."tier2Number" = '220'))
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC
```

This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/cases?engine=41530

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