Robinson R44 accident near Elgin, MN
On July 19, 2021, a Robinson R44 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Elgin, MN. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- July 19, 2021
- Place
- Elgin, MN
- Aircraft
- Robinson R44 · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 44.108°N, 92.204°W
- NTSB ID
- 20210719103513
Official records · CEN21FA330
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn July 19, 2021, about 1600 central daylight time, a Robinson R44 II helicopter, N44BJ, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Elgin, Minnesota. The pilot was fatally injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. A witness saw the helicopter completing east and west spray passes over a cornfield, with each additional spray pass progressively closer to the north end of the field. The witness saw the helicopter make two consecutive spray passes over powerlines that crossed the field, but, during the third spray pass, the helicopter flew underneath the powerlines while heading west. The witness then entered a nearby pole barn and, shortly thereafter, heard a loud “boom,” and the pole barn shook momentarily. He exited the pole barn and saw smoke rising from the cornfield. The witness and another person subsequently responded to the accident site where they found the helicopter engulfed in flames. PERSONNEL INFORMATIONThe Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revoked the pilot’s second-class medical certificate in a letter dated February 22, 2021. The pilot had been seriously injured in a forced landing accident that occurred about 11 months before this accident. The FAA sent a letter to the pilot, dated August 10, 2020, requesting a medical examination to determine if he remained qualified to hold a second-class medical certificate, but the pilot did not undergo the requested evaluation. On May 17, 2021, the pilot completed an application for a new medical certificate. On his
Probable cause
The pilot’s decision to operate the helicopter under powerlines, which resulted in a main rotor blade striking a powerline, causing the helicopter to descend from a low altitude and impact terrain.
More accidents in MN
- Jetstream BA-3100, Dec 2, 1993
- Raytheon Corporate Jets BAE 125-800A, Jul 31, 2008
- Beech King Air 100, Oct 25, 2002
- Cessna 180, Jul 12, 1987
- Cirrus Design Corp. SR22, Nov 25, 2007
Browse: Minnesota · Robinson aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
