# NTSB CEN23LA306: Robinson Helicopter R44 II, N62RK, Pocahontas, IL, July 14, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 13, 2023, 19:00 local (Jul 14, 2023, 00:00 UTC)
- Place: Pocahontas, IL
- Coordinates: 38.824484, -89.542392 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8245&lon=-89.5424&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 192630
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA306
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192630/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192630
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA306

## Probable cause

A reported loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 95 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, while spraying corn about 15 ft above ground level and at an airspeed of about 60 miles per hour, the engine “started to spit and sputter” and then lost total power. He attempted to reduce the airspeed and initiated a flare before colliding with 10 ft tall corn stalks. During the impact with the corn stalks the helicopter’s landing gear skids and tail boom separated and the helicopter bounced off the ground. The helicopter became airborne, traveled about 30 ft, rolled over, and came to rest onto its left side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and tail boom. The pilot reported the helicopter fuel tanks contained about 10 gallons of fuel and an odor of fuel was noted at the accident site. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The reason for the reported loss of engine power could not be determined.

## Factual narrative

On July 13, 2023, about 1900 central daylight time, a Robinson R44 II helicopter, N62RK, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Pocahontas, Illinois. The pilot was not injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. According to the pilot, while spraying corn about 15 ft above ground level and at an airspeed of about 60 miles per hour, the engine “started to spit and sputter” and then lost total power. The pilot attempted to reduce the airspeed and initiated a flare before colliding with 10 ft tall corn stalks. During the impact with the corn stalks, the helicopter’s landing gear skids and tail boom separated, and the helicopter bounced off the ground. The helicopter became airborne, traveled about 30 ft, rolled over, and came to rest onto its left side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and tail boom. The pilot reported the helicopter fuel tanks contained about 10 gallons of fuel and an odor of fuel was noted at the accident site. A postaccident examination of the engine was conducted, during which the spark plugs were removed and tested. The engine cylinders were borescoped with no anomalies noted to the cylinders, pistons, and valves. A cold cylinder compression check was completed with cylinder compressions in the normal range. The engine was rotated manually and through battery power to the starter; no anomalies were noted, and mechanical continuity was verified throughout the engine. Both magnetos provided spark when the engine was rotated. The engine fuel lines were checked for looseness and all lines were secured. When the engine component fuel lines were removed, an undocumented amount of fuel was present in the fuel lines and components. The examination of the engine revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N62RK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N62RK), registered now, S/N 10538, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II
- Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii) (registry code 7640122) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-ae1a5) (registry code 41899, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 10538
- Year built: 2004
- Airframe hours: 1774
- Engines: Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5 245 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 11, 2023
- Departed: FOA, Flora, IL
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; injuries: none; commercial; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 3, 2022; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 574 total, 574 in this make and model, 538 as pilot in command, 257 in the last 90 days, 70 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 70° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observed at: K3LF, 21 nm away
- METAR: K3LF 140015Z AUTO 07004KT 10SM CLR 28/22 A2986 RMK AO2 T02800219

## 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 20230713015519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230713015519A), Jul 13, 2023: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Pocahontas, IL, Destroyed. Narritive - on the evening of 13 July 2023, R-44 helicopter was in flight conducting aerial agricultural applications when a loss of engine power occured and…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 18, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192630. 24.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16357724&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Ntsb%20file_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Record of conversation - FAA inspector (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16359380&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20FAA%20Inspector-Rel.pdf
- Record of conversation - mechanic (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 115 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16369765&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20Mechanic-Rel.pdf
- Excerpt of aircraft logbook (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 20.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16359488&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Exerpt%20of%20Aircraft%20Logbook_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 5, PDF, 4 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16359168&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.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.

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