# Accident 20150415005459A: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Dunlap, IL, April 15, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 15, 2015, 16:30 local time
- Place: Dunlap, IL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.9225° N, 89.6789° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9225&lon=-89.6789&mi=10
- Aircraft: N754R, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N754R) (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: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 4,175 total, 182 in this make and model, 54 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN15LA198](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA198) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150415005459A

## Narrative

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

PILOT IN COMMAND REPORTED THAT WHILE FLYING APPROXIMATELY 300' AGL, THE LOW ROTOR WARNING LIGHT CAME ON.  ENGINE RPM WENT UP SLIGHTLY AND MAIN ROTOR RPM STARTED TO DECLINE.  A DECISION WAS MADE TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD.  PILOT REPORTED LANDING WITH A 20 KNOT TAILWIND, THE AIRCRAFT PITCHED FORWARD WITH THE MAIN ROTOR CONTACTING THE GROUND, CAUSING A HELO-ROLLOVER.  NO INJURIES OR PROPERTY DAMAGE WAS INCURRED.

WEATHER HAD 10K CEILINGS AND UNLIMITED VISIBILITY.

ENGINE BELT "AUTO-TENSIONER" WAS SENT TO ROBINSON HELICOPTER FOR REVIEW AT A LATER DATE BY THE NTSB.

## 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 CEN15LA198](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA198), Apr 15, 2015: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (N754R), Dunlap, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of main rotor rpm for reasons that could not be determined during postaccident examinations.

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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