Robinson R44 N467HA

Summary

On 26 July 2023 at about 19:45 local time, a Robinson R44 registered N467HA was involved in an accident near Hanlontown, Iowa, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 July 2023 at 19:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Hanlontown, Iowa, United States

Coordinates

43.3069, -93.3938

Aircraft

Robinson R44

Registration

N467HA

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2001

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Hanlontown → Hanlontown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN23LA328

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a cable during spray operations.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, while spraying at low altitude with power lines on the edges of the field, the airplane struck a cable, which resulted in substantial damage to the tail rotor blades and tail rotor drive shaft. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation and that he should have examined the field more thoroughly prior to conducting spray operations.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.