20170505004159A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Robinson Helicopter R44 · Santa Barbara, CA · May 5, 2017

Date: May 5, 2017 · 14:03 local
Place: Santa Barbara, CA
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Operator: INYJ
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N981RR
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR17LA097
Reported as: Robinson Helicopter R44
Reported engine: Lycoming 0-540
People aboard: 3
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 3
Pilot’s certificate: Flight instructor
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,350 total

N981RRRegistration cancelled Sep 14, 2018 · Robinson Helicopter R44S/N 0961 · Built 2001 Airframe modelRobinson Helicopter R44 Engine modelLycoming 0-540F1 SERIEReciprocating

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.

During a part 91 air tour, aircraft lost engine power, entered an autorotation, impacted two parked vehicles during autorotative landing, and was subsequently destroyed by a post impact fire. During the post-fire examination, number 3 cylinder was not attached to the aircraft, and was later recovered ½ mile away from accident site.

As the FAA filed it

DURING A PART 91 AIR TOUR, AIRCRAFT LOST ENGINE POWER, ENTERED AN AUTOROTATION, IMPACTED TWO PARKED VEHICLES DURING AUTOROTATIVE LANDING, AND WAS SUBSEQUENTLY DESTROYED BY A POST IMPACT FIRE. DURING THE POST-FIRE EXAMINATION, NUMBER 3 CYLINDER WAS NOT ATTACHED TO THE AIRCRAFT, AND WAS LATER RECOVERED ½ MILE AWAY FROM ACCIDENT SITE.

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 WPR17LA097Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportSanta Barbara, CAA total loss of engine power during cruise flight due to the failure of an engine piston rod for reasons that could not be determined due to extensive damage.May 5, 2017 · Destroyed