# Accident 20160812024809A: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Gunnison, UT, August 12, 2016

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 12, 2016, 12:30 local time
- Place: Gunnison, UT
- Airport: Salina-Gunnison
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: 6HHG
- Location: 39.0511° N, 111.8561° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0511&lon=-111.8561&mi=10
- Aircraft: N247DB, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N247DB) (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 COMPANY R44 II
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-540 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 1,540 total, 920 in this make and model, 300 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR16LA165](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16LA165) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160812024809A

## Narrative

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

THIS AIRCRAFT WAS PERFORMING AERIAL APPLICATION OPERATIONS WHEN A FITTING BROKE OFF OF THE SPRAYING EQUIPMENT. THIS MALFUNCTION CAUSED THE SPRAYING SYSTEM TO START BLOWING OUT LIQUID ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT INTO THE AIR INTAKE. THE AIRCRAFT AIR FILTER HAS THE LIQUID IN IT. WHEN THE FITTING BROKE THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE STARTED TO SPUTTER AND THEN FAILED. THE PILOT ENTERED AN AUTOROTATION FROM ABOUT 50 KNOTS AND 75 FEET AGL, DAMAGING THE TAIL BOOM AND ROTOR BLADES.

## 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 WPR16LA165](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16LA165), Aug 12, 2016: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (N247DB), Gunnison, UT, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.

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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