Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II accident near Coralville, Iowa, July 16, 2026
On July 16, 2026, a 2005 Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, registered N322TC, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Coralville, Iowa. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a power line during a low-level aerial application flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 16, 2026 · cases in 2026
- Place
- Coralville, Iowa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, built 2005
- Registration
- N322TC · registry record · serial 10661
- 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 stated that he flew around the cornfield to identify hazards, noted the power lines, and then began aerial application operations. While spraying around a large tree the pilot saw the glint of the power line and attempted to avoid it but was unsuccessful. The pilot was unable to maintain sufficient main rotor RPM and entered an autorotation to the cornfield. After landing in the field, the main rotor blades struck the corn stalks and the helicopter came to a rest on its side, resulting in substantial damage to the main rotor system, engine mount, fuselage, and tailboom. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures of the helicopter 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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
- Low altitude operation/event during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Evacuation during post (impact)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 662 hours in all; 168 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 34 in the last 30 days; 610 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 12, 2026
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,068 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 9, 2026; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming Engines IO-540-AE1A5 (piston); 2,068 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IOW Iowa City IA at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,900 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 8:00 pm from KIOW, 5 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KIOW 160052Z AUTO 18003KT 10SM BKN049 31/23 A3005 RMK AO2 SLPNO T03060228 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on October 1, 2026. 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.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photo Array | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N322TC on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Engine: Lycoming Engines IO-540-AE1A5 1,044 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Iowa City Municipal · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Iowa 871 since 1982 · 131 in the last ten years
- Iowa 4,514 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN26LA256.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.