# NTSB investigations: Lycoming O-540-F1B5: 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 CEN26LA289](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA289.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 Raven 1 · Scribner, NE · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 18, 2026 · N26EH · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power lines while maneuvering at low-level altitude during an agricultural operation.
- [NTSB CEN23LA328](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA328.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Hanlontown, IA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 26, 2023 · N467HA · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a cable during spray operations.
- [NTSB CEN21LA350](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA350.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Waukon, IA · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Aug 4, 2021 · N775AK · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from a powerline during an agricultural application pass.
- [NTSB CEN21LA452](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA452.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Mineral Point, WI · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 20, 2021 · N44XB · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to see and avoid a wire during an aerial application flight, resulting in a collision with the wire.
- [NTSB ERA21FA200](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21FA200.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Wingate, NC · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · May 2, 2021 · N4528T · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a power line during a low-level aerial application flight, resulting in tail rotor impact with the power line, a loss of control, and subsequent impact with the ground.
- [NTSB CEN20CA300](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA300.md): Robinson R44 · Dickeyville, WI · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report · Jul 20, 2020 · N570WH · Substantial damage
  > The pilot did not maintain clearance from wires during an aerial application flight.
- [NTSB GAA19CA509](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA509.md): Robinson R44 · Cypress Island, WA · Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report · Aug 21, 2019 · N7186P · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from a tree while maneuvering at a low altitude.
- [NTSB CEN18FA215](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18FA215.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Oshkosh, WI · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jun 9, 2018 · N529DW · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's decision to fly over the river at a low altitude and his failure to maintain clearance with wires during low-level flight.
- [NTSB GAA18CA247](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA247.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Sonora, TX · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Apr 18, 2018 · N4487D · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from trees while maneuvering at a low altitude.
- [NTSB CEN15CA348](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15CA348.md): Robinson R44 · Kansasville, WI · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Aug 7, 2015 · N20KD · Destroyed
  > The pilot's inability to see and avoid power lines that were low to the ground and a green color that blended with the background crops.
- [NTSB CEN14CA426](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14CA426.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Lancaster, WI · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Aug 13, 2014 · N8343P · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's inadequate monitoring of the environment and failure to maintain clearance from transmission wires during an aerial application flight.
- [NTSB CEN10CA251](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA251.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Baraboo, WI · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · May 15, 2010 · N570MD · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with crops while maneuvering during aerial application.
- [NTSB WPR09CA339](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA339.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Marysville, CA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 13, 2009 · N244HP · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from the power line wires.

## 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 ('42353')
    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=42353

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