20110826026299A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Robinson Helicopter R44 · Batesville, TX · August 26, 2011

Date: August 26, 2011 · 07:30 local
Place: Batesville, TX
Phase of flight: Ground/Ramp/Ma
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N99FJ
NTSB investigation: NTSBCEN11CA627
Reported as: Robinson Helicopter R44
Reported engine: Lycoming O-540-F1B5
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Commercial pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 2,500 total2,500 in this make and model100 in the last 90 days

N99FJRegistration cancelled Apr 1, 2013 · Robinson Helicopter R44S/N 0059 · Built 1994 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.

On August 26, 2011, the pilot was attempting to takeoff from his helo trailer but forgot to unlatch the left latch that holds the helicopter down and secured during transporting. The helicopter went to the left and hit the ground substantially damaging the Robinson 44. The pilot was not injured and there was no post fire.

As the FAA filed it

ON AUGUST 26, 2011, THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO TAKEOFF FROM HIS HELO TRAILER BUT FORGOT TO UNLATCH THE LEFT LATCH THAT HOLDS THE HELICOPTER DOWN AND SECURED DURING TRANSPORTING. THE HELICOPTER WENT TO THE LEFT AND HIT THE GROUND SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGING THE ROBINSON 44. THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED AND THERE WAS NO POST FIRE.

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 CEN11CA627Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportBatesville, TXThe pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection that failed to ensure all tie-down clamps were removed prior to takeoff, which resulted in the helicopter’s dynamic rollover.Aug 26, 2011 · Substantial damage