# NTSB ERA25LA240: Robinson Helicopter R44 II, N144WK, Hawesville, KY, June 25, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: June 25, 2025, 10:41 local (15:41 UTC)
- Place: Hawesville, KY
- Coordinates: 37.764207, -86.776505
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7642&lon=-86.7765&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: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report November 20, 2025
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 200390
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA240
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200390/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200390
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA240

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from power lines during low-level agricultural spray operations.

## 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)
- [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Response/compensation (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)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, during an aerial application flight, he made multiple passes over the field, while avoiding power lines. On the accident pass, the helicopter struck one of the power lines suspended above the field with the center of the rotor mast. The helicopter subsequently impacted terrain. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, tail boom, and main rotor blades during the accident sequence. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N144WK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N144WK), registered now, S/N 10639, 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: 10639
- Year built: 2005
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-AE1A5 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Western Kentucky Leasing LLC
- Registered owner: Western Kentucky Leasing LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special); Standard, Normal
- Departed: Philpot, KY
- Airport: OWB, Owensboro/Daviess County Rgnl
- Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; injuries: serious; commercial; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 15, 2025; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 795.4 total, 650 in this make and model, 756 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 38 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observed at: OWB, 19 nm away
- METAR: KOWB 251556Z 00000KT 10SM SCT044 32/24 A3019 RMK AO2 SLP220 T03220244

## 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 20250625012139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250625012139A), Jun 25, 2025: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Hawesville, KY, Destroyed. Helicopter was performing agricultural spraying of a corn field when the main rotor mast struck a utility power line. The impact severed the blade links, and…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 20, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200390. 47.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 43.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19192086&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1_Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigation photographs (item 2, PDF, 5 pages, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19193047&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record - FAA inspector's statement (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 75 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19556235&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Inspectors%20statement-Rel.pdf
- Wreckage release (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 584 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19342615&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Release%20(N144WK,%20ERA25LA240)_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.

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