Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

July 27, 2019 · Robinson R44 II · N7508Z

Blair, NE

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 27, 2019
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury)
Location
Blair, NE
Aircraft
Robinson R44 II (2005)
Tail Number
N7508Z
Operator
Ne Ia Helicopters
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CEN19LA240

After completing a spray pass during a helicopter aerial application flight, the pilot initiated a climb over trees to head south. The pilot reported that, at the top of the climb, he noticed that the engine rpm was beyond "max limitations" and that the main rotor rpm was in the green range. The pilot initiated a right pedal turn to the north and decreased the engine throttle to lower the engine rpm. The engine rpm remained at the upper limit, but the main rotor rpm decreased. The pilot then attempted to correct the main rotor rpm by increasing the throttle; however, the main rotor rpm fluctuated and then continued to decrease. Unable to control and maintain the main rotor rpm, the pilot performed a forced landing to a field with sloped terrain, during which the main rotor blades impacted terrain. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor blades and tailboom. Postaccident examination of the upper and lower actuator support bearing brackets revealed they were separated from the scroll, and evidence of fretting and rub marks was noted between the brackets and scroll walls. In addition, elongated rivet holes were observed on the scroll wall, and the associated rivets were sheared. Torque paint was noted on the outboard rivets. It is likely that the bracket supporting the lower actuator bearing became loose and sheared the rivets, which allowed the actuator bearing to shift and led to a subsequent misalignment of the clutch actuator. The misalignment of the clutch actuator resulted in the loss of belt tension between the engine and main rotor drive system. The reason for the loose bracket and sheared rivets could not be determined due to damage. A manufacturer service bulletin required an inspection of the brackets for evidence of fretting or looseness, and that was accomplished about 169 flight hours before the accident. The compliance procedure, which was to occur at the next 100-hour or annual inspection, was to visually inspect the brackets and attaching rivets for evidence of fretting or looseness and, on the lower bracket, to apply torque seal in a vertical stripe across both outboard rivets to lower scroll to facilitate future inspections. It is likely that the wear was not apparent at the time of the inspection.

NTSB Probable Cause

The failure of the lower actuator bearing support bracket, which resulted in the misalignment of the clutch actuator, the loss of belt tension on the main rotor drive system, and the subsequent forced landing on sloped terrain.

Full Narrative

On July 27, 2019, at 1628 central daylight time, a Robinson R44 II helicopter, N7508Z, impacted terrain near Blair, Nebraska. The pilot sustained minor injuries, and the helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor blades and tailboom. The helicopter was registered to and operated by NE IA Helicopters, LLC, Tekamah, Nebraska, as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and a flight plan was not filed. The local flight departed an off-airport location for aerial application operations. According to the pilot, after completing the last spray pass, he initiated a climb over a tree ridge and began to head towards the south. At the top of the climb, he noticed the engine RPM was beyond "max limitations," and the main rotor RPM was in the green range. The pilot initiated a right pedal turn to the north and decreased the engine throttle in an attempt to lower the engine RPM. After adjusting the engine throttle, the engine RPM remained at the upper limit, but the main rotor RPM decreased. The pilot then attempted to correct the main rotor RPM by increasing the throttle; however, the main rotor RPM fluctuated up and down, and continued to decrease. Unable to control and maintain the main rotor RPM, the pilot performed a forced landing to a corn field. During the forced landing to sloped terrain, the main rotor blades impacted the terrain, and the helicopter came to rest upright. A review of the aircraft records revealed Robinson Helicopter Company service bulletin (SB) 94, Subject: Actuator Lower Bearing A185 Brackets, issued June 8, 2017, was completed on May 5, 2018, at an aircraft total time of 2,181.3 hours. The compliance procedure was to visually inspect the A185 brackets and attaching rivets for evidence of fretting or looseness, and on the lower A185 bracket, apply torque seal in a vertical stripe across both outboard rivets to lower scroll to facilitate future inspections. The records also revealed the most recent 100-hour/annual inspection was completed on May 3, 2019, at a total airframe time of 2,244.0 hours. The total airframe time at the accident was 2,350.5 hours. A postaccident examination included the removal of the clutch assembly, freewheel clutch, belt tension actuator, time delay assembly, cooling fan, sections of the scroll, and actuator bearing support brackets. The components were shipped to Robinson Helicopter Company for further examination. The components were examined by a National Transportation Safety Board engineer and a technical representative of the Robinson Helicopter Company. The lower actuator support bearing bracket had separated from the scroll. Torque paint had been applied on the outer rivets, in accordance with SB-94. Fretting and rub marks were also noted between the bracket and scroll wall. Elongated rivet holes were observed on the scroll wall, and associated rivets were sheared. The upper actuator bearing support brackets were separated from the scroll and displayed fretting and rub marks between the brackets and scroll wall. All rivet holes were elongated and the rivets were sheared. The clutch actuator upper housing had fractured from housing to slider tube. The fracture surface was jagged and angular. The actuator screw was fractured at the worm gear interface in a thread grove, and the fracture surface was jagged and angular. As received, the cooling fan was tested and found to be out of balance per the manufacturer specifications; however, the fan is dynamically balanced once installed on the airframe which may be different as received from the manufacturer.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:28 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftRobinson R44 II
Tail NumberN7508Z
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageSubstantial
OperatorNe Ia Helicopters
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-540-AE1A5 · Reciprocating
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 46 · Second Class · Minor

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind180° @ 10 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data