Robinson R44 II N4124D

Summary

On 26 June 2022 at about 13:30 local time, a Robinson R44 II registered N4124D, operated by Aerial AG Services LLC, was involved in an accident near Blackwell, Texas, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 June 2022 at 13:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Blackwell, Texas, United States

Coordinates

32.1515, -100.3377

Aircraft

Robinson R44 II

Registration

N4124D

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2007

Engines

1

Operator

Aerial AG Services LLC

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN22FA288

1 person died.

The pilot’s failure to maintain proper altitude and clearance during low-level aerial application, resulting in an in-flight collision with power lines.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During an aerial application flight, the helicopter impacted power lines that were near the top of the canopy of a mesquite tree grove. The helicopter was destroyed during the impact. No radio or distress calls were heard from the pilot before the collision. Detailed examinations of the flight controls, airframe, and engine did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Examination of the engine revealed multiple transfer marks and scoring consistent with engine rotation at the time of impact. The pilot's toxicology results indicated that he had used a cannabis product. The precise timing of his cannabis use, and whether he was experiencing impairing effects from that use at the time of the accident, could not be determined from available evidence. Thus, it is unknown whether effects of the pilot's cannabis use contributed to the accident. The pilot's autopsy identified mild coronary artery disease and mild left ventricular hypertrophy of the heart. This heart disease conveyed some increased risk of a sudden impairing or incapacitating cardiac event, such as heart attack or abnormal heartbeat. Based on available medical evidence, it was unlikely that the pilot's mild heart disease contributed to the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.