# NTSB CEN25LA277: Robinson Helicopter R66, N88911, Maynard, IA, July 22, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: July 22, 2025, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Maynard, IA
- Coordinates: 42.75996, -91.92748 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7600&lon=-91.9275&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 200610
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA277
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200610/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA277

## Preliminary report

On July 22, 2025, about 1400 central daylight time, a Robinson Helicopter Company R66 helicopter, N88911, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Maynard, Iowa. The pilot was uninjured. The helicopter was operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations as a Part 137 aerial application flight. The pilot stated that he had been conducting spray operations for about 50 minutes. The helicopter was about 5 to 10 ft above the corn when, during a turn, the turbine engine flamed out. He stated that he immediately lowered the collective and applied aft cyclic to gain altitude. The pilot then executed a forced landing in the corn field, which resulted in the separation of the helicopter’s tailboom. The helicopter was retained for further examination.

## Sequence of events

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

- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R66, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7640130), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N88911](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N88911), registered now, S/N 0602, built 2015 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER CO R66
- Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R66](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r66) (registry code 7640130) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rolls-Royce 250-C300/A1](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c300-a1) (registry code 54232, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 0602
- Year built: 2015
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Midwest Aviation LLC
- Registered owner: Midwest Aviation LLC
- Destination: Same as departure

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 110° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,800 ft broken
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observed at: KOLZ, 5 nm away
- METAR: KOLZ 211815Z AUTO 11010KT 9SM FEW021 BKN028 26/21 A3003 RMK A01

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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