Accident Overview
On July 16, 2021, at about 1330 eastern daylight time, a Robinson R44 helicopter, registration N512RT, sustained substantial damage when it crashed near Princeton, Kentucky. The helicopter was being operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. The commercial pilot was seriously injured, and a pilot-rated passenger received minor injuries.
Flight Details
According to the pilot, the purpose of the flight was to spray a nearby cornfield. The agricultural mapping and navigation system was malfunctioning, so the passenger, also an aerial application pilot, was onboard to assist with the system. Two loads had been flown without incident. On the third load, after traveling "about a couple of hundred yards," the low rotor rpm warning light illuminated. The pilot reported that before takeoff, the helicopter had been filled with about 50 gallons of spraying solution. Both the pilot and his wife later indicated that the pilot knew the helicopter was "barely overweight" but felt it would be fine.
Accident Sequence
As the pilot maneuvered the helicopter to land, the left spray boom struck trees. The helicopter then landed hard, bounced, and rolled onto its left side. The passenger exited the helicopter and assisted the pilot in getting out. The pilot later told his wife that "the helicopter just wouldn't fly."
Post-Accident Examination
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the helicopter and found substantial damage to the airframe and partial separation of the tail boom. The engine and its components were inspected, and no anomalies were noted.
Weight and Balance
The maximum gross weight of the helicopter was 2,500 lbs. A weight and balance calculation estimated the helicopter's weight at the time of the accident as 2,641.4 lbs.