20060628013579A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Robsin R44 ASTRO · Fresno, CA · June 28, 2006

Date: June 28, 2006 · 18:00 local
Place: Fresno, CA
Airport: Fresno-Chandler Downtown Airport
Phase of flight: To Running(Helicopter/Vtol Ac)
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N52EP
NTSB investigation: NTSBLAX06CA221
Reported as: Robsin R44ASTRO
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 306 total20 in this make and model20 in the last 90 days

N52EPRegistration cancelled Sep 15, 2020 · Robinson Helicopter R44 ASTROS/N 0077 · Built 1994 Airframe modelRobinson Helicopter R44 ASTRO 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) The pilot performed a downwind takeoff with a thirteen knot tailwind. During this phase of flight, the helicopter lost tailrotor authority causing loss of control and impacting the ground approximately 200 feet from the initial helicopter takeoff spot. There was damage to the left cabin area, the forward part of the left skid was torn off and the main rotor blades were severely wrinkled and twisted.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) THE PILOT PERFORMED A DOWNWIND TAKEOFF WITH A THIRTEEN KNOT TAILWIND. DURING THIS PHASE OF FLIGHT, THE HELICOPTER LOST TAILROTOR AUTHORITY CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND IMPACTING THE GROUND APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET FROM THE INITIAL HELICOPTER TAKEOFF SPOT. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE LEFT CABIN AREA, THE FORWARD PART OF THE LEFT SKID WAS TORN OFF AND THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES WERE SEVERELY WRINKLED AND TWISTED.

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 LAX06CA221Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportFresno, CAthe pilot's failure to maintain directional control following a loss of tail rotor effectiveness while in a downwind hover.Jun 29, 2006 · Substantial damage