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20120609013149A

Accident · Substantial damage
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FAA accident report · Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Santa Teresa, NM · June 9, 2012

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

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Date
June 9, 2012 · 19:00 local
Place
Santa Teresa, NM
Airport
Dona Ana County Airport
Phase of flight
Takeoff: Climb Out
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage
Substantial damage
Aircraft
N744JS
NTSB investigation
NTSBCEN12LA359
Reported as
Robinson Helicopter R44 II
Reported engine
Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5
People aboard
3
Fatal injuries
0
Other injuries
0
Pilot’s certificate
Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours
236 total236 in this make and model50 in the last 90 days
N744JSRegistration cancelled May 4, 2017 · Robinson Helicopter R44 IIS/N 13086 · Built 2011Airframe modelRobinson Helicopter R44 IIEngine modelLycoming IO-540-AE1A5Reciprocating

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 June 9, 2012, at approximately 1900 MDT, N744JS, a Robinson R-44 helicopter was departing Santa Teresa municipal airport, Santa Teresa, new Mexico (5T6) enroute to roswell, new Mexico (krow). During a high density altitude takeoff, the pilot-in-command, accelerated to 35 KTS and at 20 ft AGL the helicopter began to settle and the low rotor RPM light and horn came on. At this time, the passenger in the other seat, took control of the helicopter attempting to recover from the low rotor RPM condition. He was unable to recover the condition and hit the ground off airport. On impact the skids were broken off, the main rotor stuck the ground and severed the tail. Without the anti-torque of the tail, the helicopter began spinning to the right and came to rest on it's left side. Investigation revealed the following: - the two pilots agreed who would would act as the pilot-in-command for the trip. -the helicopter was approximately 76 lbs under gross weight on a high density altitude day with three people and baggage aboard.-the pilot-in-command made several attempts at hovering prior to takeoff. Witnesses report that at least three times N744JS attempted to hover and hit the ground.-there was no indication of mechanical malfunctions on any system. The PIC and two passengers received no injuries. The helicopter sustained substantial damage.

As the FAA filed it

ON JUNE 9, 2012, AT APPROXIMATELY 1900 MDT, N744JS, A ROBINSON R-44 HELICOPTER WAS DEPARTING SANTA TERESA MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, SANTA TERESA, NEW MEXICO (5T6) ENROUTE TO ROSWELL, NEW MEXICO (KROW). DURING A HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE TAKEOFF, THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND, ACCELERATED TO 35 KTS AND AT 20 FT AGL THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO SETTLE AND THE LOW ROTOR RPM LIGHT AND HORN CAME ON. AT THIS TIME, THE PASSENGER IN THE OTHER SEAT, TOOK CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER ATTEMPTING TO RECOVER FROM THE LOW ROTOR RPM CONDITION. HE WAS UNABLE TO RECOVER THE CONDITION AND HIT THE GROUND OFF AIRPORT. ON IMPACT THE SKIDS WERE BROKEN OFF, THE MAIN ROTOR STUCK THE GROUND AND SEVERED THE TAIL. WITHOUT THE ANTI-TORQUE OF THE TAIL, THE HELICOPTER BEGAN SPINNING TO THE RIGHT AND CAME TO REST ON IT'S LEFT SIDE.INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: - THE TWO PILOTS AGREED WHO WOULD WOULD ACT AS THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND FOR THE TRIP. -THE HELICOPTER WAS APPROXIMATELY 76 LBS UNDER GROSS WEIGHT ON A HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE DAY WITH THREE PEOPLE AND BAGGAGE ABOARD.-THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS AT HOVERING PRIOR TO TAKEOFF. WITNESSES REPORT THAT AT LEAST THREE TIMES N744JS ATTEMPTED TO HOVER AND HIT THE GROUND.-THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS ON ANY SYSTEM.THE PIC AND TWO PASSENGERS RECEIVED NO INJURIES. THE HELICOPTER 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 CEN12LA359Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportSanta Teresa, NMThe sudden decrease in headwind during takeoff in a gusty wind and near a passing train, which resulted in a loss of lift and main rotor rpm. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to operate the helicopter near its maximum performance…Jun 10, 2012 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N744JS · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 20161112022469ATaxi · Stone Lake, WIThe pilot was attempting to hover taxi from his property to the road for takeoff. The hover taxi was over a driveway and between 2 mature trees. Pilot stated that he stopped due to he thought he saw a person walking by on the road and the aircraft drifted to…Nov 12, 2016 · Substantial damage