20100619037769A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Robinson He R44 · Unalaska, AK · June 19, 2010

Date: June 19, 2010 · 17:49 local
Place: Unalaska, AK
Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N333DV
NTSB investigation: NTSBANC10LA053
Reported as: Robinson He R44
Reported engine: Lycoming O-540-F1B5
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Commercial pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,000 total0 in this make and model0 in the last 90 days

N333DVRegistration cancelled Jan 4, 2011 · Robinson Helicopter R44S/N 1927 · Built 2008 Airframe modelRobinson Helicopter R44 Engine modelLycoming O-540-F1B5Reciprocating

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.

The pilot attempted to free an animal (bull), that was tangled in plastic (polypropylene) strapping, with the helicopter's skid landing gear. The bull , stuck on the skid, was lifted off the ground by the helicopter. Due to weight and CG limitations, helicopter experienced dynamic rollover. Bull was thrown from the aircraft during the roll-over. Helicopter crashed fatally injuring both the pilot and bull.

As the FAA filed it

THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO FREE AN ANIMAL (BULL), THAT WAS TANGLED IN PLASTIC (POLYPROPYLENE) STRAPPING, WITH THE HELICOPTER'S SKID LANDING GEAR. THE BULL , STUCK ON THE SKID, WAS LIFTED OFF THE GROUND BY THE HELICOPTER. DUE TO WEIGHT AND CG LIMITATIONS, HELICOPTER EXPERIENCED DYNAMIC ROLLOVER. BULL WAS THROWN FROM THE AIRCRAFT DURING THE ROLL-OVER. HELICOPTER CRASHED FATALLY INJURING BOTH THE PILOT AND BULL.

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 ANC10LA053Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportUnalaska, AKThe pilot's inappropriate low altitude maneuvering, which resulted in a collision with terrain.Jun 20, 2010 · Substantial damage