# Accident 20030516020729A: Robsin R44, Lake Ozark, MO, May 16, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 16, 2003, 19:30 local time
- Place: Lake Ozark, MO
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Pwr On Vertical Ldng/Rtrcrft
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.1667° N, 92.6167° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1667&lon=-92.6167&mi=10
- Aircraft: N227G (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: ROBSIN R44
- Reported engine: LYC O540F1B5
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 3,455 total, 27 in this make and model, 47 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI03LA128](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA128) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030516020729A

## Narrative

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

(-23) PILOT STATES THAT AFTER LANDING AND PLACING THE COLLECTIVE IN THE FULL DOWN POSITION, HE HEARD A NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE AIRCRAFT RESEMBLING THAT OF THE TAIL ROTOR CONTACTING THE GRAVEL SURFACE. PILOT STATED THAT AS THE NOISE INCREASED THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO SHAKE, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY THE AIRCRAFT ROTATING TO THE RIGHT APPROXIMATELY THIRTY DEGREES (WHILE STILL ON THE SKIDS) THEN VIOLENTLY TO THE LEFT, "AND PROCEEDED TO THRASH AROUND IN ALL DIRECTIONS." PILOT AND PASSENGER RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. LOCAL POST-ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO FLIGHT CONTROL, ENGINE CONTROL OR DRIVE SYSTEM ABNORMALITIES. OEM PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION AT THE FACTORY FACILITY IN TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA, ALSO REVEALED NO MECHANICAL DISCREPANCIES. WITNESSES REPORTED A GUSTING WIND AND THE RAISING OF THE HELICOPTER'S TAIL, WITH THE SUBSEQUENT IMPACT OF THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES INTO THE PARKING LOT PAVEMENT, FOLLOWED BY ADDITIONAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRFRAME STRUCTURE AS IT IMPACTED THE GROUND.

## 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 CHI03LA128](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA128), May 17, 2003: Robinson R44 (N227G), Lake Ozark, MO, substantial damage. Probable cause: An inability to maintain control of the helicopter during the wind gust and brief tail wind. The ravine, wind gust and tailwind were contributing factors to the accident.

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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