# Accident 20131128024169A: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Tunica, MS, November 28, 2013

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 28, 2013, 13:14 local time
- Place: Tunica, MS
- Airport: Tunica Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: Pilot school (Part 141)
- Operator: UZRS
- Location: 34.6811° N, 90.3461° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6811&lon=-90.3461&mi=10
- Aircraft: N44DQ, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N44DQ) (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: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 369 total, 54 in this make and model, 150 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA14CA055](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14CA055) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20131128024169A

## Narrative

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

AFTER COMPLETION OF AUTOROTATION WITH INSTRUCTOR WHILE ON THE GROUND, STUDENT FAILED TO MOVE ANTI TORQUE PEDALS TO THE NEUTRAL POSITION PRIOR TO INCREASING RPM. LEFT PEDAL WAS STILL IN WHEN STUDENT RAPIDLY INCREASED ROTOR RPM CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO YAW THEN HE INPUT COLLECTIVE RAISING THE HELICOPTER OFF THE GROUND AND IT BEGAN TO SPIN 360 DEGREES. THE INSTRUCTOR YELLED THAT HE HAD THE CONTROLS, BUT STUDENT FAILED TO RELEASE CONTROL AND LOCKED LEFT LEG APPLYING FULL LEFT PEDAL. THE INSTRUCTOR WAS ABLE TO BRING THE HELICOPTER TO THE GROUND WITHOUT CAUSING ANY INJURIES AND AVOIDING FURTHER AIRCRAFT DAMAGE. THE TAILROTOR BLADES HIT THE GROUND AND SEPARATED. THE TAILROTOR GEARBOX MOUNTING POINTS SHEARED CAUSING THE GEARBOX TO PARTIALLY TWIST. THE VERTICAL FIN LOWER SECTION WAS TORN-OFF. RIGHT REAR FUSELAGE BUCKLED IN SEVERAL AREAS. THE LEFT CROSSTUBE BENT UP APPROXIMATELY 1 FOOT OFF THE GROUND.

## 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 ERA14CA055](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14CA055), Nov 28, 2013: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (N44DQ), Tunica, MS, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter during the attempted takeoff, and the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the student pilot.

## Other reports on N44DQ (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20220322004039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220322004039A), Mar 22, 2022: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II (N44DQ), Howe, ID, Destroyed. Pilot departed his ranch in preston id, headed north. Following a path paralleling highway 28 northwest of the intersection of highway 22 & 28. Pilot stated he…
- [Incident 20100419032579I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100419032579I), Apr 19, 2010: Robinson He R44 II (N44DQ), Salt Lake City, UT, No damage. The instructor pilot stated that he was on a training flight with two students on board and were cleared by the tower to come in over I-15 at 6500 feet until…

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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