# Accident 20140921019789A: Robinson Helicopter R44, Dillingham Airf, HI, September 21, 2014

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 21, 2014, 15:00 local time
- Place: Dillingham Airf, HI
- Airport: Dillingham Airfield
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 21.5794° N, 158.1972° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=21.5794&lon=-158.1972&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8375E (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-540 SERIES
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 21,000 total, 22 in this make and model, 100 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR14CA385](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA385) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140921019789A

## Narrative

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

PILOT, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, WAS ON THE CONTROLS AT THE TIME OF ACCIDENT.

^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ CONDUCTED A STEEP APPROACH TO LANDING RWY 08 WITH A TAIL WIND OF 330 DEGREES AT 10 KNOTS.

UNABLE TO STOP THE DESCENT THE AIRCRAFT TAIL MADE CONTACT WITH THE GROUND PRIOR TO SKID CONTACT.  THE TAIL ROTOR BLADES BROKE UPON ROTATIONAL CONTACT WITH THE GROUND AND DEPARTED THE AIRCRAFT.

THE AIRCRAFT SUBSEQUENTLY IMPACTED THE GROUND AND THE SKIDS AND FUSELAGE WERE DEFORMED.

THE TAILBOOM DEFORMED DOWNWARDS AND THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT WAS NO LONGER CENTERED WITHIN THE TAIL BOOM.  SIGNIFICANT GRINDING NOISE OCCURED.

WITHOUT A TAIL ROTOR THE AIRCRAFT SKIDDED AND TURNED RIGHT ABOUT 6 FEET FROM THE IMPACT SIGHT.

PILOT LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE, ASSESSED OCCUPANTS IF INJURED,  AND THEN SHUT DOWN AIRCRAFT.

NO INJURIES TO SOBS WERE INCURRED.

## 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 WPR14CA385](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA385), Sep 22, 2014: Robinson Helicopter R44 (N8375E), Mokuleia, HI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during landing with a quartering tailwind, which resulted in a hard landing.

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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