# Accident 20080405014369A: Robsin R44RAVENII, Topeka, KS, April 5, 2008

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 5, 2008, 00:03 local time
- Place: Topeka, KS
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Pwr On Vertical Ldng/Rtrcrft
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.0692° N, 95.6208° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0692&lon=-95.6208&mi=10
- Aircraft: N402PD, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N402PD-2013-01-31) (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
- Reported engine: LYC IO540AE1A5
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 186 total, 116 in this make and model, 101 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DFW08TA092](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW08TA092) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080405014369A

## Narrative

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

(-23) AT APPROXIMATELY 2309 HRS ON APRIL 5, 2008, A TOPEKA POLICE HELICOPTER (N402PD/ROBINSON R-44) DEPARTED BILLARD FIELD (TOP) IN TOPEKA, KS. THE PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, COPILOT AND ONE PASSENGER WERE ON PATROL NEAR WASHBURN UNIVERSITY WHEN THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE OVERSPEED CONDITION. THE PILOT DISENGAGED THE ENGINE OVERSPEED GOVERNOR TO MANUALLY MAINTAIN ENGINE RPM. WHILE THE PILOT DID MANAGE TO MAINTAIN ENGINE RPM, THE MAIN ROTOR RPM STARTED TO DECAY. THE PILOT SCANNED THE IMMEDIATE AREA, SELECTED A VACANT PARKING LOT AT THE WASHBURN UNIVERSITY AND EXECUTED AN AUTOROTATION MANEUVER. PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN IN THE PARKING LOT THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK A LIGHT POLE. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND AND ROLLED OVER ONTO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FUSELAGE AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE PILOT, COPILOT, AND PASSENGER WERE NOT INJURED.

## 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 DFW08TA092](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW08TA092), Apr 5, 2008: Robinson R44 (N402PD), Topeka, KS, substantial damage. Probable cause: A malfunctioning magneto, resulting in a high engine rpm and low rotor warning indications. A contributing factor was the impact with a light pole, during the precautionary landing.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.