# Accident 20170427005959A: Robinson Helicopter R44 II, Newton, NC, April 27, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 27, 2017, 13:18 local time
- Place: Newton, NC
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.6333° N, 81.2439° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6333&lon=-81.2439&mi=10
- Aircraft: N728CB, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N728CB-2019-02-04) (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 R44 II
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,528 total, 207 in this make and model, 110 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA17LA168](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA168) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170427005959A

## Narrative

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

NARRATIVE:

ON APRIL 27, 2017, ABOUT 1330 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A ROBINSON R44 II, N728CB, OPERATED BY CHESAPEAKE BAY HELICOPTERS, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING A COLLISION WITH TERRAIN WHILE MANEUVERING NEAR NEWTON, NORTH CAROLINA. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT AND CREWMEMBER INCURRED MINOR INJURIES. THE LOCAL AERIAL OBSERVATION FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CFR PART 91. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND A COMPANY FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE FLIGHT THAT ORIGINATED FROM CONCORD REGIONAL AIRPORT (JQF), CONCORD, NORTH CAROLINA, ABOUT 1225.

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS PERFORMING A PIPELINE PATROL AT 500 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL AND AIRSPEED OF 70 KNOTS. DURING THE PATROL, THE CREW OBSERVED A RIGHT-OF-WAY INFRACTION AND CIRCLED THE LOCATION AT THE SAME AIRSPEED AND ALTITUDE. WHILE EXTENDING THE CIRCLING PATTERN, THE PILOT FELT A SHUDDER IN THE CONTROLS WHILE AT THE SAME TIME, THE NOSE OF THE HELICOPTER YAWED RIGHT AND THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO SPIN. HE IMMEDIATELY LOWERED THE NOSE IN AN ATTEMPT TO INCREASE FORWARD MOTION, BUT THE RATE OF SPIN INCREASED. HE THEN ATTEMPTED TO SET UP FOR AN AUTOROTATION AND AVOID RESIDENCES AND UTILITY WIRES. THE HELICOPTER SUBSEQUENTLY IMPACTED THE GROUND AND THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE AND EXIT THE HELICOPTER. CREWMEMBER (OBSERVER) AND WITNESS STATEMENTS INDICATED THE HELICOPTER LOST CONTROL AND WAS SPINNING PRIOR TO IMPACT.

EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE HELICOPTER.  AS OF 5/18/2017 TAILROTOR CONTINUITY HAS BEEN CONFIRMED.

## 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 ERA17LA168](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA168), Apr 27, 2017: Robinson R44 (N728CB), Newton, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed during out-of-ground-effect maneuvering at a low airspeed with a tailwind, which resulted in a loss of helicopter control due to a loss of tail…

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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