20060312003399A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Robsin R44RAVENII · Illiamna, AK · March 12, 2006

Date: March 12, 2006 · 13:20 local
Place: Illiamna, AK
Phase of flight: To Vertical (Helicopter Only)
Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
Operator: UPXC
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N7528Z
NTSB investigation: NTSBANC06LA025
Reported as: Robsin R44RAVENII
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 4,600 total1,850 in this make and model30 in the last 90 days

N7528ZRegistered now · Robinson Helicopter R44 IIS/N 10384 · Built 2004 Airframe modelRobinson Helicopter R44 II Engine modelLycoming IO-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, with one passenger on board, was operating his R44 helicopter on a CFR 135 passenger-carrying flight approximately 17 miles west of Illiamna, Alaska. Although VFR weather conditions existed, overcast skies and lack of contrast on the snow created whiteout conditions. Pilot landed aircraft near some brush to wait for better light conditions. After several minutes pilot determined visibility had improved and began to takeoff. As he began to pick up to a hover he again encountered whiteout conditions and loss of visibility. He attempted to land the aircraft. The aircraft had attained some forward speed and when it touched down it rolled over onto its right side. Pilot and passenger exited aircraft. Aircraft was substantially damaged and there were no injuries to pilot or passenger.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) PILOT, WITH ONE PASSENGER ON BOARD, WAS OPERATING HIS R44 HELICOPTER ON A CFR 135 PASSENGER-CARRYING FLIGHT APPROXIMATELY 17 MILES WEST OF ILLIAMNA, ALASKA. ALTHOUGH VFR WEATHER CONDITIONS EXISTED, OVERCAST SKIES AND LACK OF CONTRAST ON THE SNOW CREATED WHITEOUT CONDITIONS. PILOT LANDED AIRCRAFT NEAR SOME BRUSH TO WAIT FOR BETTER LIGHT CONDITIONS. AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES PILOT DETERMINED VISIBILITY HAD IMPROVED AND BEGAN TO TAKEOFF. AS HE BEGAN TO PICK UP TO A HOVER HE AGAIN ENCOUNTERED WHITEOUT CONDITIONS AND LOSS OF VISIBILITY. HE ATTEMPTED TO LAND THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT HAD ATTAINED SOME FORWARD SPEED AND WHEN IT TOUCHED DOWN IT ROLLED OVER ONTO ITS RIGHT SIDE. PILOT AND PASSENGER EXITED AIRCRAFT. AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO PILOT OR PASSENGER.

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 ANC06LA025Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportIlimana, AKThe pilot's continued flight into adverse weather conditions, and his spatial disorientation and loss of control during a subsequent landing attempt. Factors associated with the accident are flat light and whiteout conditions, fog, and snow-covered terrain.Mar 12, 2006 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N7528Z · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Incident 20170702005659IGround/Ramp/Ma · Bornite, AKPilot shut down the helicopter on a Remote drilling pad. When the pilot stepped out to load the aircraft it rolled backward off the pad due to not landing more forward on the pad.Jul 2, 2017 · Minor damage