# Accident 20090713013479A: Robsin R44, Marysville, CA, July 13, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 13, 2009, 10:15 local time
- Place: Marysville, CA
- Airport: Yuba County
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.2281° N, 121.3081° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2281&lon=-121.3081&mi=10
- Aircraft: N244HP, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N244HP-2012-05-17) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 (registry code 7640120, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O-540-F1B5 (registry code 42353, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-540-f1b5) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBSIN R44
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,350 total, 150 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR09CA339](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA339) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090713013479A

## Narrative

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

(-23) PILOT DEPARTED AUBURN AIRPORT AT APPROXIMATELY 10 AM ENROUTE TO NELSON, CA.  WHILE ENROUTE AT 500 AGL, THE PILOT AND HIS PASSENGERS DECIDED TO FLY AT A LOWER ALTITUDE TO HAVE A BETTER LOOK AT THE RIVER BED OVER WHICH THEY WERE FLYING.  THE PILOT INITIATED A HIGH RATE OF DESCENT DURING WHICH HE NOTICED A SET OF POWERLINES.  THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO AVOID THE POWERLINES BY REDUCING THE RATE OF DESCENT, PULLING UP ON THE COLLECTIVE AND CYCLIC.  WITH A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE, THE TAIL ROTOR OF THE AIRCRAFT MADE CONTACT WITH THE POWERLINES.  THE MAJORITY OF THE TAIL ROTOR BLADES WERE CUT OFF AND SO WAS THE MAJORITY OF THE LOWER VERTICAL FIN.  THE PILOT INITIATED AN AUTOROTATION AND DURING THE LANDING, THE HELICOPTER EXPERIENCED DYNAMIC ROLLOVER.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED, THE OCCUPANTS WERE NOT HURT, VISUAL METEORLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED.

## 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 WPR09CA339](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA339), Jul 13, 2009: Robinson Helicopter R44 (N244HP), Marysville, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from the power line wires.

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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