20110317004509A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Robinson Helicopter R44 · Petersburg, WV · March 17, 2011

Date: March 17, 2011 · 14:20 local
Place: Petersburg, WV
Phase of flight: Takeoff: Rotation
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N555FP
NTSB investigation: NTSBERA11CA194
Reported as: Robinson Helicopter R44
Reported engine: Lycoming 0-540 series
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 310 total50 in this make and model8 in the last 90 days

N555FPRegistered now · Robinson Helicopter R44S/N 1012 · Built 2001 Airframe modelRobinson Helicopter R44 Engine modelLycoming 0-540 seriesReciprocating

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.

Pilot was taking off from grant county airport (W99) when helicopter became light on the skids. Aircraft then started into a dynamic roll over to the right. The pilot then over corrected the roll and hit the main rotor blades to the ground at the 1 o'clock position. After striking the ground the helo tilted back and struck the right elevator on the tail boom. The aircraft turned 180 degree's and was shut down 20 feet from the attemped take off. Aircraft recieved substantial damage from the accident.

As the FAA filed it

PILOT WAS TAKING OFF FROM GRANT COUNTY AIRPORT (W99) WHEN HELICOPTER BECAME LIGHT ON THE SKIDS. AIRCRAFT THEN STARTED INTO A DYNAMIC ROLL OVER TO THE RIGHT. THE PILOT THEN OVER CORRECTED THE ROLL AND HIT THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES TO THE GROUND AT THE 1 O'CLOCK POSITION. AFTER STRIKING THE GROUND THE HELO TILTED BACK AND STRUCK THE RIGHT ELEVATOR ON THE TAIL BOOM. THE AIRCRAFT TURNED 180 DEGREE'S AND WAS SHUT DOWN 20 FEET FROM THE ATTEMPED TAKE OFF. AIRCRAFT RECIEVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE FROM THE ACCIDENT.

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 ERA11CA194Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportPetersburg, WVThe pilot's failure to maintain control during the takeoff.Mar 17, 2011 · Substantial damage