# Accident 20130727014509A: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Thompson Falls, MT, July 27, 2013

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 27, 2013, 13:00 local time
- Place: Thompson Falls, MT
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: 5RMS
- Location: 47.5467° N, 115.5203° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.5467&lon=-115.5203&mi=10
- Aircraft: N25WH, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N25WH-2018-01-02) (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: 3
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 3,258 total, 377 in this make and model, 43 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR13FA343](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13FA343) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130727014509A

## Narrative

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

ON JULY 27, 2013 AT 1300 MDT, A ROBINSON R-44-II, N25WH, STRUCK A TREE NEAR THOMPSON FALLS, MONTANA AFTER SPINNING

OUT OF CONTROL, WHILE ON A POWER LINE VIDEO MAPPING FLIGHT. VISUAL METEROLOGICAL  CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED.  THE PILOT WAS FATALLY INJURED, ONE PASSENGER WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED, AND THE OTHER PASSENGER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES.  THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT THE POLSON, MONTANA AIRPORT (7S0) AT 1110 MDT.

## 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 WPR13FA343](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13FA343), Jul 27, 2013: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (N25WH), Thompson Falls, MT, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain helicopter control while operating in conditions conducive to a loss of tail rotor effectiveness.

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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