# NTSB CEN26LA256: Robinson Helicopter R44 II, N322TC, Coralville, IA, July 16, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 15, 2026, 19:42 local (Jul 16, 2026, 00:42 UTC)
- Place: Coralville, IA · Corn field
- Coordinates: 41.630241, -91.651973
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6302&lon=-91.6520&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 1, 2026
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Des Moines FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 203406
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA256
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203406/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203406
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA256

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a power line during a low-level aerial application flight.

## Findings

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

- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 39 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/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: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 45 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md)
- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: 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)
- [Uncontrolled 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)
- [Post-impact: Evacuation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/460); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/460/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 103 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/460/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot stated that he flew around the cornfield to identify hazards, noted the power lines, and then began aerial application operations. While spraying around a large tree the pilot saw the glint of the power line and attempted to avoid it but was unsuccessful. The pilot was unable to maintain sufficient main rotor RPM and entered an autorotation to the cornfield. After landing in the field, the main rotor blades struck the corn stalks and the helicopter came to a rest on its side, resulting in substantial damage to the main rotor system, engine mount, fuselage, and tailboom. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures of the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N322TC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N322TC), registered now, S/N 10661, built 2005 (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: 10661
- Year built: 2005
- Airframe hours: 2068
- Engines: LYCOMING ENGINES IO-540-AE1A5 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Ultimate Rotor/Blade Helicopter
- Registered owner: Ultimate Holdings LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 9, 2026, 9 hours before
- Departed: IOW, Iowa City, IA
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; commercial; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 12, 2026; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 662 total, 168 in this make and model, 610 as pilot in command, 32 in the last 90 days, 34 in the last 30 days, 10 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,900 ft broken
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observed at: KIOW, 5 nm away
- METAR: METAR KIOW 160052Z AUTO 18003KT 10SM BKN049 31/23 A3005 RMK AO2 SLPNO T03060228 $

## 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 20260715007689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260715007689A), Jul 15, 2026: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Iowa City, IA, Substantial damage. Pilot-in-command contacted a telephone wire with the right spray boom resulting in an unusual attitude which led to the helicopter crash-landing in a cornfield.

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 1, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203406. 4.9 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 4.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20913929&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN26LA256%20pilot%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 733 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20914513&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN26LA256%20NTSB%20photo%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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