20080405832579A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Robsin R44 · Pahrump, NV · April 5, 2008

Date: April 5, 2008 · 15:47 local
Place: Pahrump, NV
Phase of flight: Autorot Descent (Rotorcraft)
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N510JM
NTSB investigation: NTSBSEA08LA104
Reported as: Robsin R44
Reported engine: Lycoming O540*
People aboard: 3
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 218 total43 in this make and model6 in the last 90 days

N510JMRegistration cancelled May 29, 2009 · Robinson Helicopter R44S/N 1179 · Built 2002 Airframe modelRobinson Helicopter R44 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) On April 5, 2008, at approximately 1547 local time, N510JM, Robinson R-44 helicopter, sustained substantial damage during an emergency landing procedure near Pahrump, Nevada. No injuries were reported by the pilot or two passengers. The PIC privacy data omitted stated that he initiated an emergency clutch malfunction procedure due to loss of main rotor RPM. No evidence to support his statement was discovered at the crash site.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ON APRIL 5, 2008, AT APPROXIMATELY 1547 LOCAL TIME, N510JM, ROBINSON R-44 HELICOPTER, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING AN EMERGENCY LANDING PROCEDURE NEAR PAHRUMP, NEVADA. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED BY THE PILOT OR TWO PASSENGERS. THE PIC ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ STATED THAT HE INITIATED AN EMERGENCY CLUTCH MALFUNCTION PROCEDURE DUE TO LOSS OF MAIN ROTOR RPM. NO EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT HIS STATEMENT WAS DISCOVERED AT THE CRASH SITE.

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 SEA08LA104Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPahrump, NVThe loss of the engine to transmission drive train continuity while on approach for undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident were lack of suitable terrain for a run-on landing, and cars on the race track.Apr 5, 2008 · Substantial damage