Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II accident near Macedonia, Iowa, September 6, 2014
On September 6, 2014 at about 5:07 pm local time, a 2004 Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, registered N699TQ, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Macedonia, Iowa. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s inadequate visual lookout, which resulted in a collision with a static line.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 6, 2014 · about 5:07 pm local time
- Place
- Macedonia, Iowa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, built 2004
- Registration
- N699TQ · no longer on the register · serial 10385
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was conducting agricultural spray operations in a helicopter. He had sprayed three fields earlier in the day and was en route to the next field when the accident occurred. Witnesses reported observing the helicopter heading north and then colliding with a suspended static line. The helicopter subsequently pitched up, descended, and impacted terrain. Larger transmission lines were located above the smaller static lines. A witness who was about 1/4 mile from the accident site stated that he could see the larger transmission lines but that he did not see the smaller static lines until the helicopter struck one of them. He also stated that it did not appear that the pilot took any evasive action to avoid the line. A postaccident examination of the helicopter did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Low altitude operation/event during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during maneuvering
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Awareness of condition
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,522 hours in all; 1,084 in this make and model; 109 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 1,522 as pilot in command; 273 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 5, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,183.4 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 25, 2014; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 AE1A5 (piston); 308 hours total
- Operator: Johnson Helicopter Services
The flight
- Departed from: RDK Red Oak IA
- Destination: RDK Red Oak IA
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observation at 5:15 pm from KCBF, 11 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
16 documents, released by the NTSB on August 28, 2015. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.