# NTSB CEN20CA313: Robinson R44, N570WH, Dakota, IL, July 27, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 27, 2020, 12:20 local (17:20 UTC) - Place: Dakota, IL - Coordinates: 42.439445, -89.515274 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4394&lon=-89.5153&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 101684 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20CA313 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101684/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101684 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA313 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain main rotor clearance from a ground obstacle during a landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063000/cases.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 111 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063000/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: ground equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022050): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022050/cases.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 52 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022050/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he repositioned the helicopter to load application chemical for the aerial application flight. The chemical was in a tank in a hay wagon and the tops of the hay wagon curved outward. He "slowly" set the helicopter down and felt the left skid touch followed by the right skid. The pilot lowered collective after the helicopter touched down and the main rotor blade struck the hay wagon. The helicopter "jumped" and shook violently. Both left and right windshields ejected from the helicopter and the main rotors came to a stop. The pilot attempted to shut down the engine; however, the engine continued to run. He exited the helicopter and applied the fuel cutoff. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main and tail rotors, the skids, and the helicopter "frames." The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. His safety recommendation stated that when setting the helicopter down near obstacles, recheck rotor clearance before fully lowering collective and be mindful that "the blades will move out of cone." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N570WH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N570WH), registered now, S/N 0538, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Robinson R44 - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R44](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44) (registry code 7640120) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-540-F1B5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-540-f1b5) (registry code 42353, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 0538 - Year built: 1998 - Airframe hours: 4627.8 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-F1B5 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: MF Helicopters Llc - Registered owner: MF Helicopters Llc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Unknown, September 13, 2019 - Departed: Dakota, IL - Destination: Dakota, IL - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 19, 2020; flight hours: 7,700 total, 380 in this make and model, 6,100 as pilot in command, 145 in the last 90 days, 107 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KFEP, 12 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20200727011019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200727011019A), Jul 27, 2020: Robinson Helicopter R44, Dakota, IL, Substantial damage. Upon landing near agriculture tender trailer, pilot lowered the skids to the ground, lowered collective and reduced power. As the rotor blades started to… ## Other investigations on N570WH (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 CEN20CA300](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA300), Jul 20, 2020: Robinson R44 (N570WH), Dickeyville, WI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot did not maintain clearance from wires during an aerial application flight. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 3, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101684. 3.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486629&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record – Communication Summary -- Pilot Indicated No Mechanical Malfunction (item 2, .PDF, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486630&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20%E2%80%93%20Communication%20Summary%20--%20Pilot%20Indicated%20No%20Mechanical%20Malfunction-Master.PDF - Photos (item 3, .PDF, 324 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486631&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.