# NTSB ERA26LA234: Robinson Helicopter R44, N144CD, Mayesville, SC, June 8, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 8, 2026, 15:15 local (19:15 UTC) - Place: Mayesville, SC - Coordinates: 33.990192, -80.140765 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9902&lon=-80.1408&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2026 - 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): 203147 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA234 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203147/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA234 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to remain clear of a power line during an aerial application flight. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: attention](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 226 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Response/compensation; cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=7640120), [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: 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) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the aerial application helicopter explained that he flew around the cornfield to identify hazards to flight (wires, houses, terrain, features, etc.) and then began aerial application operations. About 50 acres into the aerial application, the pilot was conducting a turn and checking his GPS when the glare from the sun made it difficult to see. The pilot described that he then misjudged the helicopter’s clearance from power lines and the helicopter impacted one of the top wires on the powerline with right skid and application boom. The helicopter then impacted the ground and came to rest on its left side, seriously injuring the pilot and resulting in substantial damage to the main rotor system, engine mounts, 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: [N144CD](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N144CD), registered now, S/N 0602, built 1999 (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 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 0602 - Year built: 1999 - Airframe hours: 3899.3 - Engines: LYCOMING O-540-F15 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Little Gator Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 15, 2026, 24.4 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Flight plan: VFR - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: serious; commercial; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 25, 2026; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 6,758.7 total, 2,867.2 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: SMS, 11 nm away - METAR: METAR KSMS 081935Z AUTO 12004KT 10SM CLR 33/22 A3010 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 20260608006279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260608006279A), Jun 8, 2026: Robinson Helicopter R44, Lynchburg, SC, Substantial damage. On June 8, 2026, at 1515 (EDT), a Robinson astro R-44 helicopter struck a high-tension powerline in between two corn fields and subsequently impacted terrain… 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.