# Accident 20050511008309A: Robsin R44, Gustine, CA, May 11, 2005

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 11, 2005, 09:45 local time
- Place: Gustine, CA
- Airport: Gustine Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.2625° N, 120.9631° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2625&lon=-120.9631&mi=10
- Aircraft: N144SM, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N144SM-2008-11-24) (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
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 780 total, 197 in this make and model, 247 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX05LA164](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05LA164) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050511008309A

## Narrative

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

(-23) MAINTENANCE HAD BEEN PERFORMED ON THE HELICOPTER AS FOLLOWS: 1. ANNUAL INSPECTION ON 05/09/2005 AT LOS BANOS, CA. TT 1601.8 HRS. 2. INSTALLED NEW BULKHEAD P/N C261-5 AT TOP OF MAST FAIRING ON 05/09/2005 AT LOS BANOS, CA. TT 1601.8 HRS. THE INSTALLATION OF THE MAST FAIRING BULKHEAD REQUIRED THAT THE (2) TWO CYCLIC CONTROL RODS (ROBINSON-SLEEVE P/N A143-I) BE REMOVED. AT THE ACCIDENT SITE THE LEFT SLEEVE WAS FOUND TO NOT BE CONNECTED TO THE STATIONARY SWASHPLATE. THE ROD END, P/N D173-1 WAS MISSING (BROKEN) FROM THE SLEEVE. THE SLEEVE ROD END TO SWASHPLANE ATTACHING BOLT (NA6605-19) & NUT (MS21042L5) WERE FOUND ON THE RUNWAY NEAR THE HELICOPTERS LAST DEPARTURE POINT PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.

## 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 LAX05LA164](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05LA164), May 11, 2005: Robinson R44 (N144SM), Gustine, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the improper installation of the nut/bolt assembly connecting the left cyclic push-pull tube to the non-rotating swashplate by maintenance personnel, which led to a loss of roll control during…

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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