# Accident 20080202010379A: Robsin R44RAVENII, Bullhead City, AZ, February 2, 2008

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 2, 2008, 18:30 local time
- Place: Bullhead City, AZ
- Airport: Laughlin/Bullhead International
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Pwr On Vertical Ldng/Rtrcrft
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.1572° N, 114.5594° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1572&lon=-114.5594&mi=10
- Aircraft: N44NV, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N44NV) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (registry code 7640122, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5 (registry code 41899, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-ae1a5) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBSIN R44RAVENII
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 3,000 total, 250 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX08CA057](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08CA057) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080202010379A

## Narrative

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

(-23) WRITTEN STATEMENT PROVIDED BY PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ ON 02/14/08 TO THIS OFFICE. IN THAT STATEMENT THE PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ STATES: "I DEPARTED HENDERSON, NEVADA AT APPROXIMATELY 1815 PST HEADED TO BULLHEAD CITY, ARIZONA. WHEN I TURNED ON THE LANDING LIGHTS ON MY APPROACH TO THE RAMP BOTH BULBS WERE BURNED OUT. I CONTINUED MY APPROACH WITHOUT THE LANDING LIGHTS AND STRUCK THE RAMP WITH THE TOE OF THE RIGHT SKID. THE HELICOPTER CAME BACK INTO THE AIR AND ROTATED RIGHT AT WHICH TIME THE TAIL ROTOR STRUCK THE HANGAR. THE HELICOPTER ROTATED APPROXIMATELY 360 DEGREES BEFORE HITTING THE GROUND HARD." THIS INSPECTOR CONTACTED THE PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ BY PHONE ON 02/19/08. THE PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ STATED THAT DURING HIS APPROACH TO LAND, HE INITIATED AN EXCESSIVE FLARE PRIOR TO LANDING DUE TO THE LOSS OF DEPTH PERCEPTION FROM THE LACK OF A LANDING LIGHT. THE TAIL ROTOR CONTACTED THE GROUND FORCING THE AIRCRAFT FORWARD RAPIDLY ONTO THE SKIDS. THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED BACK INTO THE AIR AND BEGAN SPINNING TO THE RIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT ROTATED RAPIDLY CLOCKWISE UNTIL IT CAME DOWN HARD AGAIN.

## 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 LAX08CA057](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08CA057), Feb 3, 2008: Robinson R44 II (N44NV), Bullhead City, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's misjudged landing flare, inadequate bounced landing recovery, and failure to maintain directional control during a bounced landing that resulted in the tail rotor blades colliding with a…

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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