20030717016869A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Robsin R44 · Flagstaff, AZ · July 17, 2003

Date: July 17, 2003 · 15:00 local
Place: Flagstaff, AZ
Phase of flight: Autorot Descent (Rotorcraft)
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N8329B
NTSB investigation: NTSBLAX03LA235
Reported as: Robsin R44
Reported engine: Lycoming O540F1B5
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 9,500 total1,200 in this make and model45 in the last 90 days

N8329BRegistration cancelled Dec 24, 2003 · Robinson Helicopter R44S/N 0219 · Built 1995 Airframe modelRobinson Helicopter R44 Engine modelLycoming 0-540 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) While cruising @ 900' (AGL) approx. 29 miles se of Flagstaff, AZ, heading to payson, AZ, the pilot lost power and entered autorotation. The helicopter fell into trees on the uphill side of them, but remained suspended in the trees, never impacting the ground, approx. six (6) feet off the ground. There were no injuries to either occupant (2) and no post-crash fire. The helicopter received substantial damage.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) WHILE CRUISING @ 900' (AGL) APPROX. 29 MILES SE OF FLAGSTAFF, AZ, HEADING TO PAYSON, AZ, THE PILOT LOST POWER AND ENTERED AUTOROTATION. THE HELICOPTER FELL INTO TREES ON THE UPHILL SIDE OF THEM, BUT REMAINED SUSPENDED IN THE TREES, NEVER IMPACTING THE GROUND, APPROX. SIX (6) FEET OFF THE GROUND. THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO EITHER OCCUPANT (2) AND NO POST-CRASH FIRE. THE HELICOPTER RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB LAX03LA235Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHappy Jack, AZthe partial loss of engine power due to an excessively lean mixture for undetermined reasons during cruise flight.Jul 17, 2003 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N8329B · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 19980702015889AFcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise · Cassville, MOHelicopter was attempting to land due to bad weather, struck a power line and crashed, Cassville, MO. (.4)the pilot and his passenger were enroute to their destination when they became aware that they were approaching a line of thunderstorms from behind. The…Jul 2, 1998 · Substantial damage