# Accident 20040627030379A: Robsin R44, Barnesville, GA, June 27, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 27, 2004, 05:55 local time
- Place: Barnesville, GA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Scud Running
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: G0VA
- Location: 33.0122° N, 84.2153° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0122&lon=-84.2153&mi=10
- Aircraft: N441MG, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N441MG-2018-01-23) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 (registry code 7640120, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540F1 SERIE (registry code 41531, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540f1-serie) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBSIN R44
- Reported engine: LYC IO540*
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 3
- Pilot flight hours: 300 total, 35 in this make and model, 35 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL04FA141](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04FA141) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040627030379A

## Narrative

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

(-23) DECEASED PASSENGERS: FRONT LEFT SEAT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ REAR LEFT SEAT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^                                                       AT APPROXIMATELY 01:59 THE PILOT OF N441MG RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING FROM THE ANDERSON FLIGHT SERVICE STATION IN ANDERSON, S.C. REQUESTING WEATHER INFORMATION FOR A FLIGHT FROM GREENVILLE, S.C. TO TALLAHASSEE, FL. THE BRIEFER INDICATED THE WEATHER CURRENTLY TO THE IFR SOUTH OF MACON GEORGIA WITH MARGINAL CONDITIONS IN NORTHERN GEORGIA. THE BRIEFER ADDED THAT AT APPROXIMATELY 0400 LOCAL THE WEATHER WOULD BE IFR SOUTH OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA. THE BRIEFER CONCLUDED BY SAYING "VFR NOT RECOMMENDED". AT APPROXIMATELY 0301 HRS LOCAL A DUATS REPORT WAS PRINTED WHICH INDICATED SIMILAR WEATHER ALONG THE ROUTE BETWEEN GREENVILLE, S.C. AND TALLAHASSEE, FL. (THIS REPORT WAS FOUND AT THE HOME BASE OF THE HELICOPTER INVOLVED). AT APPROXIMATELY 0425 HRS LOCAL, THE PILOT DEPARTED GREENVILLE, S.C. AS THE PILOT CONTINUED TO FLY A ROUTE FROM GREENVILLE, S.C TO TALLAHASSEE, FL., HE BEGAN TO ENCOUNTER LOWER CEILINGS AND RESTRICTED VISIBILITY. AT APPROXIMATELY 0555 HRS LOCAL, OVER B                                                                      ARNESVILLE, GEORGIA APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES SOUTH OF ATLANTA, THE HELICOPTER ENCOUNTERED FOG AND NEAR ZERO VISIBILITY. THE AIRCRAFT ATTEMPTED TO TURN FROM A SOUTHERN HEADING TO A NORTHERN HEADING. IN DOING SO, THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED AND CRASHED. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK TREES AS IT DESCENDED BEFORE STRIKING THE GROUND AT THE BASE OF A TREE. THE AIRCRAFT BURNED AFTER IMPACT. THE PILOT WAS EJECTED APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET FROM THE WRECKAGE. THE TWO PASSENGERS REMAINED IN THE AIRCRAFT. ALL PERSONNEL ABOARD WERE FATALLY INJURED.

## 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 ATL04FA141](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04FA141), Jun 27, 2004: Robinson R44 (N441MG), Barnesville, GA, destroyed, 3 fatal. Probable cause: The certified flight instructor's in-flight decision to continue VFR flight into IMC, which resulted in spatial disorientation, and the subsequent in a loss of control. A factor was fog.

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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