# Accident 20120731018369A: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Wainwright, AK, July 31, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 31, 2012, 08:00 local time
- Place: Wainwright, AK
- Airport: Wainwright
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
- Operator: UPXL
- Location: 70.6381° N, 159.9947° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=70.6381&lon=-159.9947&mi=10
- Aircraft: N74496, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N74496-2014-11-03) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (registry code 7640122, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540 series (registry code 41530, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-540 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,525 total, 1,330 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC12CA082](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12CA082) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120731018369A

## Narrative

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

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.

## 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 ANC12CA082](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12CA082), Jul 31, 2012: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (N74496), Wainwright, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The 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.

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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