- Date
- July 7, 2017, 16:15 local (21:15 UTC)
- Place
- Pocahontas, IL
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Standing
- Aircraft
- N62FARobinson Helicopter R44 II
- Defining event
- Standing-engine(s) operating: Comm system malf/failure
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 15, 2017
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20170707011239A
- Case key
- 95537
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The helicopter pilot’s miscommunication with the ground crewmember during reloading operations, which resulted in a takeoff with the filler hose attached to the helicopter and subsequent impact with a truck.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that the helicopter was positioned on top of a platform that was located on top of the agricultural chemical truck while he was waiting for the ground crew to reload the helicopter. During the reload, he misinterpreted the ground crew members hand and arm signal and initiated the takeoff. He quickly realized that the filler hose was still attached when the helicopter yawed right and simultaneously banked left. He attempted a right pedal turn to avoid tail rotor contact with the truck, and he tried to position the helicopter as far from the truck as possible. However, when the helicopter descended, the main rotor blades struck the truck, and the helicopter came to rest on its left side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail rotor drive system and the main rotor system. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The helicopter pilot reported that the helicopter was positioned on top of a platform that was located on top of the agricultural chemical truck. And he was waiting for the ground crew to reload the helicopter. During the reload, he misinterpreted the ground crew members hand and arm signal, and initiated the takeoff. He quickly realized that the filler hose was still attached when the helicopter yawed right and simultaneously banked left. He attempted a right pedal turn to avoid tail rotor contact with the truck, and he tried to position the helicopter as far from the truck as possible. However, when the helicopter descended, the main rotor blades struck the truck and the helicopter came to rest on its left side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail rotor drive system, and the main rotor system. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N62FA
- Reported as
- Robinson Helicopter R44 II (II)
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 11176
- Built
- 2006
- Airframe hours
- 1,857.9
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-540 SER, 245 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Jmx Helicopters LLC
- Registered owner
- Jmx Helicopters LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 21, 2017
- Departed
- Pocahantas, IL
- Destination
- Pocahantas, IL
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 33
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 4, 2017
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 1,630 total · 715 in this make and model · 1,594 as pilot in command · 16 in the last 90 days · 16 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 210° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 68 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.98 inHg
- Observed at
- KALN, 24 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 2, 2017, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.8 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.