20110915021219A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Robinson Helicopter R44 · Ocate, NM · September 15, 2011

Date: September 15, 2011 · 19:15 local
Place: Ocate, NM
Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N828PM
NTSB investigation: NTSBCEN11LA648
Reported as: Robinson Helicopter R44
Reported engine: Lycoming 0-540F1 SERIE
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 2
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 500 total100 in this make and model60 in the last 90 days

N828PMRegistration cancelled Jul 3, 2013 · Robinson Helicopter R44S/N 1493 · Built 2005 Airframe modelRobinson Helicopter R44 Engine modelLycoming 0-540F1 SERIEReciprocating

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 stated he felt vibration during flight and attempted a precautionary landing near previous landing site. During approach, aircraft began uncontrollable turn to left and pilot, attempting to correct with right cyclic and to avoid 25' tall powerlines, struck the ground with the right skid. Main rotor blades were destroyed on impact. Aircraft did not roll. Pilot appeared to be seriously injured with neck and back injuries. Passenger sustained minor injuries and not hospitalized. Aircraft sustained substantial damage

As the FAA filed it

PILOT STATED HE FELT VIBRATION DURING FLIGHT AND ATTEMPTED A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING NEAR PREVIOUS LANDING SITE. DURING APPROACH, AIRCRAFT BEGAN UNCONTROLLABLE TURN TO LEFT AND PILOT, ATTEMPTING TO CORRECT WITH RIGHT CYCLIC AND TO AVOID 25' TALL POWERLINES, STRUCK THE GROUND WITH THE RIGHT SKID. MAIN ROTOR BLADES WERE DESTROYED ON IMPACT. AIRCRAFT DID NOT ROLL. PILOT APPEARED TO BE SERIOUSLY INJURED WITH NECK AND BACK INJURIES. PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AND NOT HOSPITALIZED. AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE

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 CEN11LA648Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportOcate, NMThe pilot’s failure to apply carburetor heat, which resulted in the formation of carburetor ice and a partial loss of engine power.Sep 15, 2011 · Substantial damage