Robinson R44 II N225AM

Summary

On 4 July 2024 at about 23:30 local time, a Robinson R44 II registered N225AM, operated by Nordwald Aviation Services LLC, was involved in an accident near New Florence, Missouri, 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

4 July 2024 at 23:30

Classification

Accident

Location

New Florence, Missouri, United States

Coordinates

38.9190, -91.4890

Aircraft

Robinson R44 II

Registration

N225AM

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2008

Engines

1

Operator

Nordwald Aviation Services LLC

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN24LA252

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain proper altitude/clearance from a dead tree limb during an aerial application flight.

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 was climbing out from a spray pass along a narrow field when the tail rotor hit a dead tree limb. The helicopter started spinning to the right, entered an uncontrolled descent, and impacted the ground. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail boom and fuselage. The pilot and operator reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the helicopter.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.