Robinson R44 accident near Kansasville, Wisconsin, August 7, 2015
On August 7, 2015 at about 4:15 pm local time, a 2001 Robinson R44 (helicopter), registered N20KD, was destroyed in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Kansasville, Wisconsin. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inability to see and avoid power lines that were low to the ground and a green color that blended with the background crops.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 7, 2015 · about 4:15 pm local time
- Place
- Kansasville, Wisconsin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R44, built 2001 · all R44s on the register
- Registration
- N20KD · no longer on the register · serial 0983
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot flew over the field to be sprayed looking for obstacles. Seeing none, he commenced spraying and collided with power lines. The pilot said the power lines were only 13 feet off the ground and were green in color that blended in with the background crops. The helicopter's canopy contacted the power lines, then the lines slid beneath the helicopter and caught the skids. The helicopter nosed over and impacted terrain.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Awareness of condition
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,830 hours in all; 2,630 in this make and model; 230 in the last 90 days; 110 in the last 30 days; 2,756 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 19, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 24, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-F1B5 (piston); 2,050 hours total
- Operator: Deakins Black Nine Dairy, LLC
The flight
- Departed from: 57C East Troy WI at 1:00 pm
- Destination: 57C East Troy WI
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 4:35 pm from KBUU, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.