# Accident 20080317013109A: Robsin R44RAVENII, Montgomery, NY, March 17, 2008

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 17, 2008, 14:00 local time
- Place: Montgomery, NY
- Airport: Orange County
- Damage: Destroyed
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.5097° N, 74.2644° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5097&lon=-74.2644&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3027Y, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3027Y-2020-08-02) (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
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 0 total, 0 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC08CA140](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08CA140) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080317013109A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON 03/17/2008 A ROBINSON R44-II HELICOPTER PILOTED BY A STUDENT PILOT WHO WAS ON A SOLO FLIGHT, THEN ATTEMPTED TO HOVER THE HELICOPTER AWAY FROM THE FUEL PUMPS. THE HELICOPTER SLID FORWARD AND TO THE RIGHT, CAUSING THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES TO IMPACT A LAMPPOST, MADE FROM 4X4 STEEL TUBING, DESTROYING MAIN ROTOR BLADES. THE PILOT FELT IMPACT, AND TRIED TO CORRECT BY INPUTTING TOO MUCH AFT CYCLIC. AT THIS POINT THE HELICOPTER TAIL PITCHED DOWN AND THE TAIL ROTOR IMPACTED THE RAMP, TEARING THE TAIL ROTOR GEARBOX AND STABILIZER FROM TAILBOOM. THE AIRCRAFT REMAINED UPRIGHT ON ITS SKID LANDING GEAR. DURING THE IMPACT THE FUSELAGE BUCKLED BY THE FUEL TANK, TEARING OPEN TANK AND SPILLING 45 GALLONS OF AVIATION FUEL ON THE RAMP. THE PILOT IMMEDIATELY CHOPPED THE MIXTURE AND THROTTLE TURNING OFF THE ENGINE. THIS HELICOPTER HAS SUSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGE TO ITS AIRFRAME.

## 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 NYC08CA140](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08CA140), Mar 17, 2008: Robinson R44 (N3027Y), Montgomery, NY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's loss of control during takeoff.

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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