20120731018369A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Wainwright, AK · July 31, 2012

Date: July 31, 2012 · 08:00 local
Place: Wainwright, AK
Airport: Wainwright
Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
Operator: UPXL
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N74496
NTSB investigation: NTSBANC12CA082
Reported as: Robinson Helicopter R44 II
Reported engine: Lycoming IO-540 series
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 1
Pilot’s certificate: Commercial pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,525 total1,330 in this make and model

N74496Registration cancelled Nov 3, 2014 · Robinson Helicopter R44 IIS/N 10755 · Built 2005 Airframe modelRobinson Helicopter R44 II Engine modelLycoming IO-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.

R 44 rotorcraft (pollux aviation ltd. N74496) pilot not involved with aircraft refueling, thus incorrect refuel type jet-a put into rotorcraft's main fuel tank instead of avgas 100LL, which created engine failure during climb out with 775 lb sling load attached. Rotorcraft crashed .59 miles from refuel point on tundra with sling load attached, substantial damage incurred to aircraft, pilot received minor injury.

As the FAA filed it

R 44 ROTORCRAFT (POLLUX AVIATION LTD. N74496) PILOT NOT INVOLVED WITH AIRCRAFT REFUELING, THUS INCORRECT REFUEL TYPE JET-A PUT INTO ROTORCRAFT'S MAIN FUEL TANK INSTEAD OF AVGAS 100LL, WHICH CREATED ENGINE FAILURE DURING CLIMB OUT WITH 775 LB SLING LOAD ATTACHED. ROTORCRAFT CRASHED .59 MILES FROM REFUEL POINT ON TUNDRA WITH SLING LOAD ATTACHED, SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE INCURRED TO AIRCRAFT, PILOT RECEIVED MINOR INJURY.

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 ANC12CA082Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportWainwright, AKThe failure of ground personnel to ensure the helicopter was serviced with the proper fuel. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to monitor the fueling process.Jul 31, 2012 · Substantial damage