# Accident 20040728016569A: Robsin R44RAVENII, Walnut Creek, NC, July 28, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 28, 2004, 09:00 local time
- Place: Walnut Creek, NC
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Pwr On Vertical Ldng/Rtrcrft
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.3683° N, 78.0861° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3683&lon=-78.0861&mi=10
- Aircraft: N442RD, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N442RD) (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
- Reported engine: LYC IO540*
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL04LA155](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04LA155) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040728016569A

## Narrative

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

(-23) PILOT WAS EXECUTING AN APPROACH INTO A CONFINED AREA BEHIND HIS HOUSE. PILOT STATED THAT HE LANDED THE AIRCRAFT ON THE EDGE OF A CONCRETE HELIPAD CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO ROCK BACKWARDS WHEN THE TAIL ROTOR "CAME OFF." THE HELIPAD WAS ELEVATED APPROXIMATELY FOUR INCHES AND THE PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN MOVED UP ONTO THE HELIPAD AFTER THE ACCIDENT. ON SITE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE 90 DEGREE GEARBOX AND TAILROTOR COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT WITH EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE TAILROTOR BLADES AND ASSEMBLY. ADDITIONALLY, THE VERTICAL STABILIZER WAS BENT SEVERELY TO THE LEFT INDICATING A NOSE LEFT YAW. FUSELAGE INSPECTION SHOWED EVIDENCE OF INTERNAL DAMAGE TO THE TAIL AND ENGINE MOUNT STRUCTURES. THERE WERE NO NOTICEABLE GROUND MARKS INDICATING THE TAILROTOR HAD STRUCK THE GROUND. THE ENTIRE AREA AROUND THE HELIPAD HAD BEEN RAKED AND SMOOTHED RECENTLY.

## 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 ATL04LA155](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04LA155), Jul 28, 2004: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (N442RD), Goldsboro, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to obtain the proper touchdown point during landing on a helipad with an exposed edge, which resulted in an in-flight collision with terrain.

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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