# Accident 20070802016419A: Robsin R44RAVENII, Easton, WA, August 2, 2007

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 2, 2007, 14:15 local time
- Place: Easton, WA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: To Vertical (Helicopter Only)
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: GJOA
- Location: 47.1844° N, 121.2419° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.1844&lon=-121.2419&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7531D, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7531D-2007-10-26) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (registry code 7640122, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540 series (registry code 41530, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBSIN R44RAVENII
- Reported engine: LYC IO540*
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 4
- Pilot flight hours: 2,015 total, 58 in this make and model, 160 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA07FA223](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07FA223) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070802016419A

## Narrative

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

(-23) A HELICOPTER OPERATED BY CLASSIC HELICOPTERS (GTOA) FROM BOEING FIELD IN SEATTLE, WASHINGTON WAS INVOLVED IN A FATAL ACCIDENT IN THE MOUNTAINS SOUTH OF EASTON, WA. A ROBINSON HELCOPTER R-44II, N7531D WAS PILOTED BY ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. THE HELICOPTER WAS CHARTERED BY ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ AND TWO SOUTH KOREANS ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. ALL WERE FATALLY INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT AND ENSUING FIRE. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS AN EYEWITNESS TO THE ACCIDENT. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ AN OWNER OF CLASSIC HELICOPTERS STATED THAT THE PILOT CALLED THEIR OFFICE ON HER CELL PHONE AND STATED THAT SHE WOULD BE DEPARTING SOON AND THAT SHE HAD 39 GALLONS OF FUEL ONBOARD. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ OBSERVED THE HELICOPTER LIFT OFF AND DEPARTURE. HE STATED THAT THE HELICOPTER PICKED UP ABOUT 40 FEET AND STARTED A LEFT TURN. AFTER ABOUT 150 FEET HE HEARD A CHANGE IN THE NOISE THE HELICOPTER WAS MAKING AND NOTICED THE HELICOPTER BANKING AND YAWING BACK AND FORTH. HE STATED THE HELICOPTER ROLLED LEFT AND THE NOSE WAS LOW WHEN IT WENT OUT OF SIGHT JUST PRIOR TO HITTING THE GROUND AND BURST INTO FLAME. THE ACCIDENT CAUSED A 485 ACRE FOREST FIRE. THE OCCUPANTS OF THE HELICOPTER WERE SEVERELY BURNED AND MUCH OF THE HELICOPTER WAS MELTED BY THE FIRE. DURING THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT THE WITNESS STATED THERE WAS VERY LITTLE WIND AT THE LANDING SITE. THERE WAS STANDING TIMBER JUST UPWIND FROM THE LOCATION OF THE LANDING THAT WAS BLOCKING THE WIND. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE WIND UPON REACHING THE CRASH SITE WAS DOWN THE HILL WHICH WOULD BE DOWN WIND FOR THE HELICOPTER. PERFORMANCE CHARTS INDICATE THAT THE ROBINSON HELICOPTER CAN HOVER OUT OF GROUND EFFECT AT 4000 FEET PRESSURE ALTITUDE FOR THE WEIGHT AND TEMPERATURE THIS HELICOPTER WAS WHEN IT TOOK OFF. THE DENSITY ATTITUDE WAS NEAR 7000 FEET AT THE LOCATION OF THE ACCIDENT SITE. THE EYEWITNESS STATED THE HELICOPTER WAS APPROXIMATELY 40 FEET IN THE AIR DURING THE TAKE OFF AND DEPARTURE.

## 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 SEA07FA223](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07FA223), Aug 2, 2007: Robinson R44 II (N7531D), Easton, WA, destroyed, 4 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's improper planning/decision in attempting a downwind takeoff under high density altitude conditions that resulted in a loss of control and impact with terrain. Contributing to the accident…

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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