20090906049319A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Robinson He R44 II · Central, AK · September 6, 2009

Date: September 6, 2009 · 19:00 local
Place: Central, AK
Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
Operator: YADC
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N4186Y
NTSB investigation: NTSBANC09LA098
Reported as: Robinson He R44 II
People aboard: 3
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Airline transport
Pilot’s flight hours: 2,400 total1,000 in this make and model300 in the last 90 days

N4186YRegistered now · Robinson Helicopter R44 IIS/N 12533 · Built 2008 Airframe modelRobinson Helicopter R44 II Engine modelLycoming IO-540-AE1A5Reciprocating

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.

Airman stated that on short final to a remote landing area he encountered low level windshear. He initially attempted a go-around but due to the tail wind condition he was unable to climb so elected to continue to landing and was unable to adequately arrest the rate of descent.

As the FAA filed it

AIRMAN STATED THAT ON SHORT FINAL TO A REMOTE LANDING AREA HE ENCOUNTERED LOW LEVEL WINDSHEAR. HE INITIALLY ATTEMPTED A GO-AROUND BUT DUE TO THE TAIL WIND CONDITION HE WAS UNABLE TO CLIMB SO ELECTED TO CONTINUE TO LANDING AND WAS UNABLE TO ADEQUATELY ARREST THE RATE OF DESCENT.

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 ANC09LA098Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCentral, AKThe pilot’s failure to maintain control of the helicopter after an in-flight encounter with a downdraft while landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inadequate evaluation of wind conditions.Sep 7, 2009 · Substantial damage