# Accident 20170505004159A: Robinson Helicopter R44, Santa Barbara, CA, May 5, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 5, 2017, 14:03 local time
- Place: Santa Barbara, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: INYJ
- Location: 34.4328° N, 119.7511° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4328&lon=-119.7511&mi=10
- Aircraft: N981RR, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N981RR-2018-09-14) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 (registry code 7640120, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540F1 SERIE (registry code 41531, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540f1-serie) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-540
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 3
- Pilot certificates: Flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 1,350 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR17LA097](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17LA097) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170505004159A

## Narrative

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

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.

## 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 WPR17LA097](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17LA097), May 5, 2017: Robinson Helicopter R44 (N981RR), Santa Barbara, CA, destroyed. Probable cause: A 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.

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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