Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II accident near Hawesville, Kentucky, June 25, 2025
On June 25, 2025 at about 3:41 pm local time, a 2005 Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, registered N144WK, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Hawesville, Kentucky (Owensboro/Daviess County Rgnl airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from power lines during low-level agricultural spray operations.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 25, 2025 · about 3:41 pm local time
- Place
- Hawesville, Kentucky · Owensboro/Daviess County Rgnl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, built 2005
- Registration
- N144WK · registry record · serial 10639
- 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 reported that, during an aerial application flight, he made multiple passes over the field, while avoiding power lines. On the accident pass, the helicopter struck one of the power lines suspended above the field with the center of the rotor mast. The helicopter subsequently impacted terrain. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, tail boom, and main rotor blades during the accident sequence. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with 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) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Response/compensation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 795.4 hours in all; 650 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 38 in the last 30 days; 756 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 15, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Western Kentucky Leasing LLC
The flight
- Departed from: Philpot KY at 1:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,400 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observation at 10:56 am from OWB, 19 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KOWB 251556Z 00000KT 10SM SCT044 32/24 A3019 RMK AO2 SLP220 T03220244
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Accident site from the air
Photograph 4 – Fuselage accident damage
Photograph 6 – Rotor mast damageThe 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
4 documents, released by the NTSB on November 20, 2025. 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 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 5 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for Record - FAA Inspector's Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Wreckage Release | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
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.