Robinson R44 II accident near Pomeroy, Washington, May 2, 2013
On May 2, 2013 at about 10:50 pm local time, a Robinson R44 II (helicopter), registered N442RN, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Pomeroy, Washington. 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 ensure that the helicopter was properly loaded, which resulted in the helicopter being in excess of its maximum allowable gross weight and led to a loss of main rotor rpm on takeoff. Contributing to the accident were the ground crewman's inadvertent overloading of the helicopter and the design of the spray tank's visual sight glass, which did not allow the pilot to visually verify the amount of the spray tank load without exiting the helicopter.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 2, 2013 · about 10:50 pm local time
- Place
- Pomeroy, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R44 II · all R44 IIs on the register
- Registration
- N442RN · registry record · serial 11047
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Before the agricultural application flight, the pilot asked the ground crewman to refill the spray tank with 50 gallons of chemical solution; 10 gallons of aviation fuel was also added. Subsequently, the ground crewman signaled to the pilot that the helicopter was ready to depart. During the departure and while transitioning to forward flight, the low-rotor rpm horn activated, and the pilot immediately pushed the emergency dump button to lighten the load; however, the rpm continued to decrease, and the pilot initiated a run-on landing to a field. During the landing, the pilot was unable to maintain control as the left skid dug into the dirt, which resulted in the helicopter nosing over and coming to rest on its left side. The pilot reported that he believed the amount of solution added to the tank was more than 50 gallons, which placed the helicopter outside of weight and balance and performance limitations. The pilot added that the spray tank sight glass is long and very shallow, and that, unless the helicopter is level, the sight glass reading is inaccurate. Additionally, when seated in the helicopter, it was not possible for the pilot to see the spray tank sight glass or know how much spray solution had been loaded into the tank. Therefore, the pilot had to rely either on the ground crewman or exit the helicopter after each load and visually check the load to ensure that the helicopter was loaded with the proper amount of chemical solution. The pilot reported no 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
- Aircraft loading event during prior to flight
- Loss of lift during takeoff defining event
- Loss of control on ground during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Maximum weight › Capability exceeded
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action sequence › Ground crew
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Indicating/recording systems › (general) › Design
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service › Loading › (general) › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,911 hours in all; 1,262 in this make and model; 270 in the last 90 days; 83 in the last 30 days; 1,871 as pilot in command; 15 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 5, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,615 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 18, 2013; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Leading Edge Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: Pomeroy WA at 10:49 pm
- Destination: Pomeroy WA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.47 inHg
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.