|
Location:
|
Emerson, IA
|
Accident Number:
|
CEN26LA260
|
|
Date & Time:
|
July 20, 2026, 10:55 Local
|
Registration:
|
N224RH
|
|
Aircraft:
|
ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44
|
Aircraft Damage:
|
Substantial
|
|
Defining Event:
|
Miscellaneous/other
|
Injuries:
|
1 None
|
|
Flight Conducted Under:
|
Part 137: Agricultural
|
|
|
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.
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
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
Factual Information
History of Flight
Pilot Information
|
Certificate:
|
Commercial
|
Age:
|
39,Male
|
|
Airplane Rating(s):
|
None
|
Seat Occupied:
|
Right
|
|
Other Aircraft Rating(s):
|
Helicopter
|
Restraint Used:
|
3-point
|
|
Instrument Rating(s):
|
None
|
Second Pilot Present:
|
No
|
|
Instructor Rating(s):
|
None
|
Toxicology Performed:
|
|
|
Medical Certification:
|
Class 2 Without waivers/limitations
|
Last FAA Medical Exam:
|
May 7, 2026
|
|
Occupational Pilot:
|
Yes
|
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
|
August 4, 2025
|
|
Flight Time:
|
6216 hours (Total, all aircraft), 2170 hours (Total, this make and model)
|
|
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
|
Aircraft Make:
|
ROBINSON HELICOPTER
|
Registration:
|
N224RH
|
|
Model/Series:
|
R44
|
Aircraft Category:
|
Helicopter
|
|
Year of Manufacture:
|
2001
|
Amateur Built:
|
|
|
Airworthiness Certificate:
|
Restricted (Special)
|
Serial Number:
|
1137
|
|
Landing Gear Type:
|
Skid
|
Seats:
|
4
|
|
Date/Type of Last Inspection:
|
July 19, 2026 100 hour
|
Certified Max Gross Wt.:
|
2400 lbs
|
|
Time Since Last Inspection:
|
|
Engines:
|
1 Reciprocating
|
|
Airframe Total Time:
|
7653.4 Hrs at time of accident
|
Engine Manufacturer:
|
LYCOMING
|
|
ELT:
|
Not installed
|
Engine Model/Series:
|
O-540F1 SERIE
|
|
Registered Owner:
|
Cedar Ridge Aviation
|
Rated Power:
|
260 Horsepower
|
|
Operator:
|
Cedar Ridge Aviation
|
Operating Certificate(s) Held:
|
Agricultural aircraft (137)
|
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
|
Conditions at Accident Site:
|
Visual (VMC)
|
Condition of Light:
|
Day
|
|
Observation Facility, Elevation:
|
KRDK,1044 ft msl
|
Distance from Accident Site:
|
5 Nautical Miles
|
|
Observation Time:
|
11:00 Local
|
Direction from Accident Site:
|
48°
|
|
Lowest Cloud Condition:
|
Clear
|
Visibility
|
10 miles
|
|
Lowest Ceiling:
|
None
|
Visibility (RVR):
|
|
|
Wind Speed/Gusts:
|
8 knots / None
|
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:
|
None / None
|
|
Wind Direction:
|
230°
|
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
|
N/A / N/A
|
|
Altimeter Setting:
|
29.85 inches Hg
|
Temperature/Dew Point:
|
32°C / 25°C
|
|
Precipitation and Obscuration:
|
No Obscuration; No Precipitation
|
|
|
Departure Point:
|
Emerson, IA
|
Type of Flight Plan Filed:
|
None
|
|
Destination:
|
Emerson, IA
|
Type of Clearance:
|
None
|
|
Departure Time:
|
Type of Airspace:
|
Class G
|
Wreckage and Impact Information
|
Crew Injuries:
|
1 None
|
Aircraft Damage:
|
Substantial
|
|
Passenger Injuries:
|
N/A
|
Aircraft Fire:
|
None
|
|
Ground Injuries:
|
N/A
|
Aircraft Explosion:
|
None
|
|
Total Injuries:
|
1 None
|
Latitude, Longitude:
|
40.94964,-95.34683
|
Administrative Information
|
Investigator In Charge (IIC):
|
Miller, Bradley
|
|
Additional Participating Persons:
|
Joseph Jackson; FAA; Des Moines, IA
|
|
Original Publish Date:
|
September 11, 2026
|
|
Last Revision Date:
|
|
Investigation Class:
|
Class 4
|
|
Note:
|
The NTSB did not travel to the scene of this accident.
|
|
Investigation Docket:
|
https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203428
|
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