# Accident 20050214005599A: Robsin R44, Arrowhead, CA, February 14, 2005

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 14, 2005, 15:20 local time
- Place: Arrowhead, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Vertical (Helicopter Only)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.5500° N, 117.4167° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5500&lon=-117.4167&mi=10
- Aircraft: N44NG, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N44NG-2023-03-21) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 (registry code 7640120, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540 series (registry code 41532, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBSIN R44
- Reported engine: LYC O540*
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 4,452 total, 2,866 in this make and model, 217 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX05CA095](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05CA095) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050214005599A

## Narrative

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

(-23) INSTRUCTOR PILOT WAS DEMONSTRATING AN APPROACH TO A CONFINED AREA TO A STUDENT IN A REMOTE AREA NEAR LAKE ARROWHEAD WITHOUT INTENTION TO LAND. HELICOPTER SANK FROM 150' AND DID NOT INITIALLY RESPOND TO COLLECTIVE INPUTS, HELICOPTER WAS STILL AT 50'-100' PILOT ELECTED TO LAND RATHER THAN GO AROUND DUE TO ROUGHER SURROUNDING AREA. PILOT ATTEMPTED TO PULL UP COLLECTIVE TO CUSHION LANDING BUT HELICOPTER DID NOT RESPOND TO THE COLLECTIVE INPUT DUE TO WIND CAUSING A VORTEX RING STATE. HELICOPTER BOUNCED TWO TO THREE TIMES. THE RIGHT SKID WAS RESTING ON A LARGE ROCK SO PILOT WANTED TO MOVE TO A FLATTER AREA. PILOT TOOK HELICOPTER TO A HOVER WITH LEFT SKID IN THE AIR. HELICOPTER STAYED IN A HOVER FOR A FRACTION OF A SECOND THEN ROLLED LEFT AND YAWED SLIGHTLY RIGHT AND CAME TO REST ON ITS SIDE. STUDENT, TWO PASSENGERS, THEN THE PILOT EXITED THE HELICOPTER. PILOT NOTICED THE WIND SWITCHING FROM EAST TO WEST WITH 15+ KNOT GUSTS.

## 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 LAX05CA095](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05CA095), Feb 14, 2005: Robinson R44 (N44NG), Lake Arrowhead, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the certified flight instructor's failure to adequately compensate for wind conditions and his selection of terrain unsuitable for a safe takeoff which resulted in a dynamic rollover.

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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