# NTSB CEN26LA260: Robinson Helicopter R44, N224RH, Emerson, IA, July 20, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 20, 2026, 10:55 local (15:55 UTC) - Place: Emerson, IA - Coordinates: 40.94964, -95.34683 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9496&lon=-95.3468&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 11, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 203428 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA260 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203428/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203428 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA260 ## Probable cause The failure of the pilot to verify the loading hose had been disconnected before taking off and the failure of the loader to disconnect the fuel hose from the helicopter. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Ground crew (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Communication (personnel)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063500): Personnel issues › Task performance · Ground crew; cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063500/cases.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063500/cases.md) - [Communication (personnel)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063500): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063500/cases.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063500/cases.md) - [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01010000): Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service · Incorrect use/operation; cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01010000/cases.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01010000/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of policy/procedure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063032): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063032/cases.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 191 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063032/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Standing-engine(s) operating: Ground handling event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080/sequence.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 108 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) ## Analysis The report provided by the company representative stated that the loader signaled to the helicopter pilot a thumbs up and walked down the stairs of the mobile loading platform. As the pilot was taking off, everything initially seemed normal until the pilot felt a tug on the helicopter. The helicopter pulled down and to the right and descended until it impacted the terrain in a right-side nose down attitude which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage, tail boom, and main rotor. After the accident it was noted that the dry break coupler had broken off the refueling hose from the mobile loading platform and remained attached to the helicopter. The company representative reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. When interviewed, the owner stated that the pilot was supposed to receive a thumbs-up or thumbs-down to indicate if the helicopter was ready to leave the platform. He also said the pilot was also supposed to visually verify that the fuel and chemical hoses were disconnected. The pilot stated he took off the moment he saw the loader walk down the stairs and made no mention of looking for a thumbs up from the loader. The loader did not remember if he signaled the pilot with a thumbs up indicating that it was safe to take off. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N224RH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N224RH), registered now, S/N 1137, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44 - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R44](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44) (registry code 7640120) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540F1 SERIE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540f1-serie) (registry code 41531, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 1137 - Year built: 2001 - Airframe hours: 7653.4 - Engines: LYCOMING O-540F1 SERIE 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Cedar Ridge Aviation - Registered owner: Cedar Ridge Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 19, 2026 - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; injuries: none; commercial; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 4, 2025; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 6,216 total, 2,170 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 77 °F - Altimeter: 29.85 inHg - Observed at: KRDK, 5 nm away - METAR: METAR KRDK 201555Z AUTO 23008KT 10SM CLR 32/25 A2985 RMK AO2 ## 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 20260720008389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260720008389A), Jul 20, 2026: Robinson Helicopter R44, Red Oak, IA, Substantial damage. Pilot lost control during take off from elevated platform with ground crew fueling hose connected to rotorcraft. ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 11, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203428. 2.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20742096&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN26LA260%20-%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 2 photos, 512 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20749801&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN26LA260%20-%20PHOTOS-Rel.pdf - FAA - owner & pilot (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 161 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20743247&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN26LA260%20-%20FAA%20INTERVIEW%20-%20OWNER-PILOT_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA - loader (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 107 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20743416&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN26LA260%20-%20FAA%20INTERVIEW%20-%20LOADER_Redacted-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. --- 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.