# Incident 20160521006059I: Robinson Helicopter R44, Orondo, WA, May 21, 2016

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 21, 2016, 09:30 local time
- Place: Orondo, WA
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 47.6260° N, 120.2254° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Orondo, WA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.6260&lon=-120.2254&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1976B, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1976B) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 (registry code 7640120, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540 series (registry code 41532, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-540 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 2,060 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160521006059I

## Narrative

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

THE AIRCRAFT STUCK A TREE WHILE DRYING CHERRIES. ONCE THE PILOT DETERMINED THAT AN OBSTACLE HAD BEEN IMPACTED THE PILOT IMMEDIATELY LANDED THE HELICOPTER. THE PILOT INSPECTED THE BLADES AND DETERMINED THAT AN IMPACT HAD OCCURRED.  THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN BOTH HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL CLEARANCE FROM AN OBSTACLE (TREE).

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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