20130413008959A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Ludlow, SD · April 13, 2013

Date: April 13, 2013 · 12:15 local
Place: Ludlow, SD
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N424DP
NTSB investigation: NTSBCEN13LA228
Reported as: Robinson Helicopter R44 II
Reported engine: Lycoming IO-540 series
People aboard: 4
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
Pilot’s flight hours: 12,020 total89 in this make and model99 in the last 90 days

N424DPRegistration cancelled May 20, 2015 · Robinson Helicopter R44 IIS/N 11036 · 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.

On 04/13/2013 at 12:15 local MDT, a Robinson R-44 raven ii, registered to double d choppers LLC. Crash landed during cruise on a pleasure flight. VFR conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft was substantially damaged, and the pilot and passengers were uninjured. The pilot holds a commercial certificate with a rotorcraft/helicopter rating. The flight originated at a ranch that is approx. 2 miles southwest of Ludlow, SD on 04/13/2013 at 12:10 local MDT.

As the FAA filed it

ON 04/13/2013 AT 12:15 LOCAL MDT, A ROBINSON R-44 RAVEN II, REGISTERED TO DOUBLE D CHOPPERS LLC. CRASH LANDED DURING CRUISE ON A PLEASURE FLIGHT. VFR CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED, AND THE PILOT AND PASSENGERS WERE UNINJURED. THE PILOT HOLDS A COMMERCIAL CERTIFICATE WITH A ROTORCRAFT/HELICOPTER RATING. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT A RANCH THAT IS APPROX. 2 MILES SOUTHWEST OF LUDLOW, SD ON 04/13/2013 AT 12:10 LOCAL MDT.

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 CEN13LA228Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBuffalo, SDThe pilot’s failure to maintain adequate main rotor rpm while maneuvering at a low altitude in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in an emergency landing on uneven terrain.Apr 13, 2013 · Substantial damage