# Accident 20151006017949A: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Neets Bay, AK, October 6, 2015 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: October 6, 2015, 13:05 local time - Place: Neets Bay, AK - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Ground/Ramp/Ma - Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135) - Operator: UPXC - Location: 55.7825° N, 131.6683° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=55.7825&lon=-131.6683&mi=10 - Aircraft: N779DZ, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N779DZ) (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: 1 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Other injuries: 0 - Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot - Pilot flight hours: 1,914 total, 669 in this make and model, 195 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA16CA009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA009) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20151006017949A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. DESCRIPTION: HELICOPTER WAS BEING OPERATED OFF A METAL BARGE IN NEETS BAY, ALASKA TO SUPPORT REMOTE HELIPAD CONSTRUCTION AND OR REPAIR. AS THE PILOT STARTED THE HELICOPTER AND ENGAGED THE CLUTCH, THE HELICOPTER BEGAN A RAPID RIGHT YAW. THE PILOT APPLIED LEFT PEDAL WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY CLOSING THE THROTTLE. THE HELICOPTER THEN RAPIDLY YAWED LEFT AND THE TAIL CONTACTED THE BARGE DECK CRANE RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE TAIL ROTOR AND TAIL BOOM. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ THE DECK OF THE BARGE WAS WET WHICH MADE IT VERY SLICK. WHEN THE TORQUE SPIKED WITH ROTOR ENGAGEMENT, THE PILOT OVER CORRECTED THE RIGHT YAW WHICH RESULTED IN A LEFT YAW AND TAIL ROTOR CONTACT WITH THE CRANE. RECOMMENDATIONS: THE COMPANY INVESTIGATED THE ACCIDENT, AND DETERMINED THAT SEVERAL CHANGES TO THEIR HELICOPTER/BOAT OPERATIONS WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED. FIRST CHANGE IS THAT NO AIRCRAFT STARTING WILL TAKE PLACE ON METAL DECKS WITHOUT A NON SLIP COATING BEING INSTALLED. SECONDLY THE COMPANY WILL DEVELOP A STRATEGY TO INSURE CRANE PLACEMENT ON THE DECK WILL BE MORE OBSCURE. COMMENTS: TWO FAA INSPECTORS INTERVIEWED THE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS AND PILOT ON THE BARGE WHERE THE ACCIDENT TOOK PLACE. THEIR RECOMMENDATION IS THAT THE CORRECTIVE ACTIONS BEING TAKEN BY THE COMPANY WILL GREATLY REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD OF AN ACCIDENT LIKE THIS OCCURRING IN THE FUTURE. CORRECTIVE ACTIONS: AIRMAN COUNSELING WHICH TOOK PLACE IN PERSON WHEN THE TWO INVESTIGATING INSPECTORS INTERVIEWED THE PILOT. ## 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 GAA16CA009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA009), Oct 6, 2015: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (N779DZ), Ketchikan, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the engine start sequence, which resulted in the helicopter sliding on a steel deck and impacting a crane. Contributing to the accident was… ## Other reports on N779DZ (2) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Accident 20210830014029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210830014029A), Aug 30, 2021: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II (N779DZ), Gustavus, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot was relocating to site of previous company hard landing at remote repeater site. Landing to be made on improved 12X12 wooden platform on sloped mountain… - [Accident 20110515008859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110515008859A), May 15, 2011: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II (N779DZ), Larson Lake, AK, Substantial damage. The airman dropped off passengers on a river bank after landing. The aircraft was swept into vegetation on shore before the airman could water taxi away or… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.