# Accident 20160617006799A: Robinson Helicopter R44, Chatham, MA, June 17, 2016

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 17, 2016, 12:45 local time
- Place: Chatham, MA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Unknown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.7139° N, 69.9828° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7139&lon=-69.9828&mi=10
- Aircraft: N141TM, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N141TM-2018-07-31) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 (registry code 7640120, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540F1 SERIE (registry code 41531, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540f1-serie) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-540F1 SERIE
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 8,300 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA16LA216](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16LA216) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160617006799A

## Narrative

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

DEPARTED PLYMOUTH AIRPORT FOR A SCENIC PHOTO FLIGHT AFTER APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR THE HELICOPTER MANEUVERED FOR A PHOTO PASS AND I SPOKE TO THE PILOT WHO WAS STILL IN ICU ON PAIN MEDICATION. THE PILOT STATED HE EXPERIENCED A LATERAL VIBRATION. HE NOTED A CLUTCH CAUTION LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VIBRATION WORSENED TO THE POINT HE COULD NOT SEE HIS INSTRUMENTS. A SECOND CAUTION LIGHT CAME ON WHICH HE THOUGHT WAS LOW ROTOR RPM.  HE ENTERED AN AUTO ROTATION AND IMPACTED A GRASSY MARSH AT THE EDGE OF CROWS POND CHATHAM MA.

## 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 ERA16LA216](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16LA216), Jun 17, 2016: Robinson Helicopter R44 (N141TM), Chatham, MA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The inadequate maintenance of the lower forward clutch actuator bearing for a prolonged period of time, which resulted in a bearing failure. Contributing to the accident was an erroneous maintenance…

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.