# Accident 20120121001699A: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Anchorage, AK, January 21, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 21, 2012, 12:55 local time
- Place: Anchorage, AK
- Airport: Beluga
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Ground/Ramp/Ma
- Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
- Operator: JKWL
- Location: 61.6447° N, 150.1019° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.6447&lon=-150.1019&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4510T, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4510T) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (registry code 7640122, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5 (registry code 41899, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-ae1a5) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-540-AE1A5
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC12CA018](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12CA018) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120121001699A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

HELICOPTER ARRIVED AT A LANDING ZONE PLANNING TO CONDUCT PART 133 EXTERNAL LOAD CARGO OPERATIONS.  THE PILOT LANDED THE HELICOPTER AND COMMENCED SHUTDOWN PROCEDURES WITH THE HELICOPTER IN THE LOW RPM FLIGHT IDLE POSITION FOR COOL DOWN.  DURING THE COOL DOWN PERIOD, A GROUND CREW PERSON WHO WAS LOCATED AT THE FAR EDGE OF THE LANDING ZONE REMOVED A WEIGHT FROM A LARGE EMPTY FABRIC CARGO BAG. THE ATMOSPHERIC WINDS GUSTING TO APPROXIMATELY 30 KNOTS LIFTED THE BAG FROM THE SURFACE WHEN THE GROUND CREW PERSON REMOVED THE WEIGHT.  THE BAG BLEW TOWARD THE HELICOPTER AND CAUGHT ON THE OUTER TIP OF THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE.  THE PILOT IMMEDIATELY PULLED THE MIXTURE TO SHUT THE HELICOPTER DOWN.  INSPECTION REVEALED DAMAGE TO THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE RESULTING IN AN UNAIRWORTHY CONDITION.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ANC12CA018](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12CA018), Jan 21, 2012: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (N4510T), Beluga, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: Ground personnel's movement of cargo in windy conditions, which allowed a previously secured cargo sack to blow into the main rotor blades.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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