20060531013939A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Robsin R44 · Stapleton, NE · May 31, 2006

Date: May 31, 2006 · 18:35 local
Place: Stapleton, NE
Phase of flight: Hovering
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N544LB
NTSB investigation: NTSBCHI06CA143
Reported as: Robsin R44
People aboard: 3
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 135 total55 in this make and model30 in the last 90 days

N544LBRegistration cancelled Jul 16, 2008 · Robinson Helicopter R44S/N 0880 · Built 2000 Airframe modelRobinson Helicopter R44 Engine modelLycoming 0-540F1 SERIEReciprocating

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) Landing on uneven terrain, the pilot added power lifting off the ground and struck a tree with the main rotor. The helicopter then had a hard landing. Damage to the helicopter was the main rotor tail boom and skids.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) LANDING ON UNEVEN TERRAIN, THE PILOT ADDED POWER LIFTING OFF THE GROUND AND STRUCK A TREE WITH THE MAIN ROTOR. THE HELICOPTER THEN HAD A HARD LANDING. DAMAGE TO THE HELICOPTER WAS THE MAIN ROTOR TAIL BOOM AND SKIDS.

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 CHI06CA143Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportStapleton, NEThe pilot not maintaining clearance fron the tree during landing. A factor was the tree.May 31, 2006 · Substantial damage