Robinson Helicopter R44 N224RH accident near Emerson, Iowa

Probable cause

The failure of the pilot to verify the loading hose had been disconnected before taking off and the failure of the loader to disconnect the fuel hose from the helicopter.

NTSB analysis

The report provided by the company representative stated that the loader signaled to the helicopter pilot a thumbs up and walked down the stairs of the mobile loading platform. As the pilot was taking off, everything initially seemed normal until the pilot felt a tug on the helicopter. The helicopter pulled down and to the right and descended until it impacted the terrain in a right-side nose down attitude which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage, tail boom, and main rotor.

After the accident it was noted that the dry break coupler had broken off the refueling hose from the mobile loading platform and remained attached to the helicopter. The company representative reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

When interviewed, the owner stated that the pilot was supposed to receive a thumbs-up or thumbs-down to indicate if the helicopter was ready to leave the platform. He also said the pilot was also supposed to visually verify that the fuel and chemical hoses were disconnected.

The pilot stated he took off the moment he saw the loader walk down the stairs and made no mention of looking for a thumbs up from the loader. The loader did not remember if he signaled the pilot with a thumbs up indicating that it was safe to take off.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN26LA260 for the full record.