# Accident 20150828014779A: Robinson Helicopter Co R44 II, Cheyenne, WY, August 28, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 28, 2015, 11:00 local time
- Place: Cheyenne, WY
- Airport: Cheyenne Regional/Jerry Olson Fiel
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.0972° N, 104.8272° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0972&lon=-104.8272&mi=10
- Aircraft: N440SA, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N440SA-2018-01-16) (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 CO R44 II
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-540
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 2,500 total, 1,600 in this make and model, 300 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN15LA387](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA387) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150828014779A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS OCCUPIED THE R44 PERFORMING "RIGHT OF WAY" ASSESSMENTS FOR MAGELLAN PETROLEUM.

AFTER LEAVING CHEYENNE REGIONAL AIRPORT, THE AIRCRAFT FLEW SOUTH TO THE BORDER TO PICK UP THE PIPELINE TO FLY NORTH. A LAPTOP POWER SUPPLY FAILED FOR ONE OF THE PASSENGERS. THE CREW DECIDED TO STOP AT A FUEL TERMINAL THAT IS LOCATED APPROX 3 MILES SOUTH OF THE CHEYENNE AIRPORT. DURING THE APPROACH, THE PILOT STATED THAT FROM BASE TO FINAL, THE HELICOPTER LOST LIFT. HE LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE AND TRIED TO FLY FWD TO INCREASE AIRSPEED. HOWEVER, AT APPROXIMATELY 20-30 FEET AGL, REALIZED THAT THEY WOULD BE MAKING CONTACT WITH THE GROUND. HE STRAIGHTENED THE AIRCRAFT AND PULLED COLLECTIVE. THE HELICOPTER HIT THE RIGHT SKID, SKIDDED ABOUT 8 FEET TO THE LEFT AND HIT THE STINGER. BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT SKIDS SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THE STINGER WAS BENT AND BOTH ENDS OF THE TAIL ROTOR WERE SEPARATED FROM THE HUB. MINOR INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED BY ALL 3 SOULS ABOARD.

## 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 CEN15LA387](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA387), Aug 28, 2015: Robinson R44 II (N440SA), Cheyenne, WY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper preflight performance planning, which resulted in a hard landing due to low rotor rpm while operating near maximum gross weight in high density altitude conditions.

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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