Robinson R44 II N144WK

Summary

On 25 June 2025 at about 15:41 local time, a Robinson R44 II registered N144WK, operated by Western Kentucky Leasing LLC, was involved in an accident near Hawesville, Kentucky, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

25 June 2025 at 15:41

Classification

Accident

Location

Hawesville, Kentucky, United States

Nearest airport

Owensboro/Daviess County Rgnl (OWB)

Coordinates

37.7642, -86.7765

Aircraft

Robinson R44 II

Registration

N144WK

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2005

Engines

1

Operator

Western Kentucky Leasing LLC

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Philpot → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA25LA240

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from power lines during low-level agricultural 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, during an aerial application flight, he made multiple passes over the field, while avoiding power lines. On the accident pass, the helicopter struck one of the power lines suspended above the field with the center of the rotor mast. The helicopter subsequently impacted terrain. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, tail boom, and main rotor blades during the accident sequence. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.