# Accident 20131017020639A: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Sedro_woolly, WA, October 17, 2013

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 17, 2013, 21:15 local time
- Place: Sedro_woolly, WA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 48.5900° N, 122.2564° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.5900&lon=-122.2564&mi=10
- Aircraft: N414CC, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N414CC-2019-04-22) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (registry code 7640122, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5 (registry code 41899, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-ae1a5) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-540-AE1A5
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 256 total, 256 in this make and model, 94 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR14CA019](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA019) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20131017020639A

## Narrative

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

ON 10/17/2013, AT APPROXIMATELY 2130 HOURS PDT, ROBINSON R-44II HELICOPTER, N414CC, OPERATING UNDER 14CFR91, CRASHED AFTER ENCOUNTERING INSTRUMENT METEORLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC) DURING TAKE OFF CLIMB.

N414CC DEPARTED A PRIVATE RESIDENCE IN A RURAL AREA UNDER VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR) ENROUTE TO SEATTLE BOEING FIELD, KING COUNTY INTERNATIONAL (KBFI) AIRPORT. THE PILOT INADVERTENTLY ENTERED A LAYER OF RADIATION FOG AT 60 FEET AGL CAUSING LOSS OF GROUND REFERENCE. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE STRUCK A TREE TOP WHICH ALSO SHATTERED THE LOWER COCKPIT BUBBLE. THE PILOT PERFORMED AN EMERGENCY DESCENT IN IMC CONDITIONS AND REGAINED VISUAL GROUND REFERENCE JUST PRIOR TO IMPACT. THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD STRIKING THE GROUND LEFT SKID LOW WITH NO FORWARD MOTION. THE IMPACT COLLAPSED THE LEFT SKID STRUTS, CAUSING THE RETREATING MAIN ROTOR BLADE TO STRIKE THE GROUND. THE HELICOPTER CAME TO REST ON ITS TOP LEFT SIDE  SUSTAINING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE ROTOR SYSTEM, FUSELAGE, TAIL BOOM, AND SKID LANDING GEAR.

THE PILOT AND PASSENGER SUFFERED MINOR CUTS AND ABRASIONS NOT REQUIRING MEDICAL TREATMENT AND EXITED THE WRECKAGE UNASSISTED.

## 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 WPR14CA019](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA019), Oct 18, 2013: Robinson R44 - II (N414CC), Sedro Woolley, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The non-instrument rated pilot's inadvertent encounter with instrument meteorological conditions during initial climb and his improper decision to continue flight, which resulted in an in-flight…

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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