20050813024319A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Robsin R44 · Indianapolis, IN · August 13, 2005

Date: August 13, 2005 · 11:10 local
Place: Indianapolis, IN
Airport: Greenwood Municipal Airport
Phase of flight: Pwr On Vertical Ldng/Rtrcrft
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N534SE
NTSB investigation: NTSBCHI05LA235
Reported as: Robsin R44
Reported engine: Lycoming O540*
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 740 total100 in this make and model60 in the last 90 days

N534SERegistration cancelled Jan 3, 2006 · Robinson Helicopter R44S/N 0534 · Built 1998 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) Pilot was operating at an airport open house and had successfully completed about 9 rides prior to the accident which occurred around 1110 local time. Pilot stated that he approached the landing zone directly into the wind and set down at the same place he had previously use for take offs and landing. The pilot stated that he had all of the aft trim in, but still felt forward pressure in the cyclic. The pilot, weighing about 160 pounds, and the front passenger weighing about 220 pounds, were located in the front two seats. There was a passenger in the left rear seat that weighed about 165 pounds. Upon landing, the aircraft began rocking back and forth. The pilot stated that this happened often, but not as dramatic, so he lifted the aircraft off the ground in an attempt to recover. The aircraft began oscillating worse, the rotor impacted the ground and the aircraft broke apart. All occupants were treated and released from the hospital.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) PILOT WAS OPERATING AT AN AIRPORT OPEN HOUSE AND HAD SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED ABOUT 9 RIDES PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT WHICH OCCURRED AROUND 1110 LOCAL TIME. PILOT STATED THAT HE APPROACHED THE LANDING ZONE DIRECTLY INTO THE WIND AND SET DOWN AT THE SAME PLACE HE HAD PREVIOUSLY USE FOR TAKE OFFS AND LANDING. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD ALL OF THE AFT TRIM IN, BUT STILL FELT FORWARD PRESSURE IN THE CYCLIC. THE PILOT, WEIGHING ABOUT 160 POUNDS, AND THE FRONT PASSENGER WEIGHING ABOUT 220 POUNDS, WERE LOCATED IN THE FRONT TWO SEATS. THERE WAS A PASSENGER IN THE LEFT REAR SEAT THAT WEIGHED ABOUT 165 POUNDS. UPON LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN ROCKING BACK AND FORTH. THE PILOT STATED THAT THIS HAPPENED OFTEN, BUT NOT AS DRAMATIC, SO HE LIFTED THE AIRCRAFT OFF THE GROUND IN AN ATTEMPT TO RECOVER. THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN OSCILLATING WORSE, THE ROTOR IMPACTED THE GROUND AND THE AIRCRAFT BROKE APART. ALL OCCUPANTS WERE TREATED AND RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL.

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 CHI05LA235Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportGreenwood, INThe inadequate remedial action during landing by the pilot.Aug 13, 2005 · Substantial damage