# Accident 20030402004689A: Robsin R44RAVENII, Willcox, AZ, April 2, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 2, 2003, 08:00 local time
- Place: Willcox, AZ
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.2453° N, 109.8947° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.2453&lon=-109.8947&mi=10
- Aircraft: N233TR, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N233TR) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (registry code 7640122, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540 series (registry code 41530, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBSIN R44RAVENII
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 686 total, 286 in this make and model, 60 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX03LA123](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA123) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030402004689A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) THIS WAS A DELIVERY FLT. OF A NEW HELICOPTER FROM CALIF. TO ST. LOUIS, MO. THEY STOPPED FOR FUEL IN TUCSON, AZ. AND ABOUT ONE (1) HOUR N.E. OF TUCSON THE ALTERNATOR LITE CAME "ON" WITH AN AMP METER "DISCHARGE" INDICATION. ABOUT TWENTY (20) SECONDS LATER THE CLUTCH LITE CAME "ON" AND STAYED "ON" (WITH THE ODOR OF BURNING RUBBER AND NOISES). THE PILOT PULLED THE CLUTCH C.B. THE HELICOPTER WAS @ APPROX. 400-500 FT (AGL) WHEN THE PILOT ENTERED AUTOROTATION. UPON GROUND CONTACT WITH A "MOUND" OF BRUSH/DIRT, THE HELICOPTER PITCHED FWD. CONTACTING THE "CHIN"/NOSE WITH THE GROUND, ROCKED AFT WITH THE M/R BLADES CONTACTING THE TAIL BOOM SKIN ONLY (NOT THE DRIVE SHAFT), AND THE LANDING SKIDS WERE BENT UPWARD FROM THE FWD/FRONT STRUTS. NO PERSONAL INJURY AND NO POST CRASH FIRE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX03LA123](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA123), Apr 2, 2003: Robinson R-44 II (N233TR), Willcox, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the alternator belt which resulted in the failure of the main drive belt.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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