20170213001649A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Robinson Helicopter R44 · Holtville, CA · February 13, 2017

Date: February 13, 2017 · 21:30 local
Place: Holtville, CA
Phase of flight: Maneuver
Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
Operator: XJZG
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N4534G
NTSB investigation: NTSBGAA17CA151
Reported as: Robinson Helicopter R44
Reported engine: Lycoming O-540-F1B5
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Commercial pilot

N4534GRegistration cancelled Nov 6, 2018 · Robinson Helicopter R44S/N 2034 · Built 2009 Airframe modelRobinson Helicopter R44 Engine modelLycoming O-540-F1B5Reciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Pilot was making a turn after completing an application. Pilot appears to have experienced settling with power condition. Pilot noticed rotor RPM was too low and applied too much collective in an attempt to correct issue. Aircraft did not have enough RPM nor altitude to correct issue. Skids made contact with terrain causing a/c to nose over. A/c ended up resting on pilot side. Pilot egressed the a/c, sustaining no injuries. A/c was destroyed.

As the FAA filed it

PILOT WAS MAKING A TURN AFTER COMPLETING AN APPLICATION. PILOT APPEARS TO HAVE EXPERIENCED SETTLING WITH POWER CONDITION. PILOT NOTICED ROTOR RPM WAS TOO LOW AND APPLIED TOO MUCH COLLECTIVE IN AN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT ISSUE. AIRCRAFT DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH RPM NOR ALTITUDE TO CORRECT ISSUE. SKIDS MADE CONTACT WITH TERRAIN CAUSING A/C TO NOSE OVER. A/C ENDED UP RESTING ON PILOT SIDE. PILOT EGRESSED THE A/C, SUSTAINING NO INJURIES. A/C WAS DESTROYED.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB GAA17CA151Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportHoltville, CAThe pilot’s initiation of a left turn at a low altitude with low airspeed and a tailwind while operating near maximum gross weight, which resulted in the helicopter losing altitude, touching down on a dirt surface, and a subsequent dynamic rollover.Feb 14, 2017 · Substantial damage