# Accident 20160627024859A: Robinson Helicopter R44, Calexico, CA, June 27, 2016

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 27, 2016, 20:00 local time
- Place: Calexico, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: XJZG
- Location: 32.7522° N, 115.4650° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7522&lon=-115.4650&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8325X, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8325X-2018-06-01) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 (registry code 7640120, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O-540-F1B5 (registry code 42353, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-540-f1b5) (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
- Pilot flight hours: 490 total, 490 in this make and model, 60 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR16LA132](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16LA132) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160627024859A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT WAS EN ROUTE TO A FIELD WHERE HE WOULD BEGIN A 14 CFR PART 137 AERIAL APPLICATION OPERATION.  WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT APPROXIMATELY 400 FEET, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED VIBRATIONS AND SUDDEN POWERLOSS.  THE PILOT ENTERED AUTOROTATION, TURNED INTO WIND, AND TOUCHED DOWN BESIDE A DIRT ROAD NEXT TO AN AGRICULTURAL FIELD.  DURING THE GROUND RUN, THE RIGHT SKID CONTACTED SOFT SOIL, RESULTING IN MAIN ROTORBLADE GROUND CONTACT, AND ROLLING THE HELICOPTER ONTO ITS RIGHT SIDE WHERE IT CAME TO REST.  THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AND THE PILOT WAS UNINJURED.

## 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 WPR16LA132](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16LA132), Jun 28, 2016: Robinson Helicopter R44 (N8325X), El Centro, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of main rotor rpm and airframe vibration for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information, which resulted in a forced landing to sloping terrain and the helicopter…

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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