# Accident 20170707011229A: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Paoli, IN, July 7, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 7, 2017, 16:30 local time
- Place: Paoli, IN
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: 3JXG
- Location: 38.5856° N, 86.4647° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5856&lon=-86.4647&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3203D, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3203D-2017-12-08) (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-AE1A5
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,500 total, 772 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA17CA401](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA401) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170707011229A

## Narrative

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

ON JULY 7, 2017 AT APPROXIMATELY 10:30 EASTERN STANDARD TIME, A ROBINSON R-44 II ROTORCRAFT, N3203D RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE FOLLOWING COLLISION WITH THE GROUND WHILE CONDUCTING AGRICULTURE OPERATIONS EAST OF THE INTERSECTION OF E COUNTY ROAD 100 N AND N COUNTY ROAD 450 E,  PAOLI, INDIANA. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT AND SOLE OCCUPANT OF THE AIRCRAFT SUFFERED NO INJURIES. THE AIRCRAFT WAS REGISTERED TO JMX HELICOPTERS LLC AND OPERATED UNDER PROVISIONS OF 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS (CFR) PART 137 AS AN AGRICULTURAL FLIGHT. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED A FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED. THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS TO CONDUCT 14 CFR PART 137 AERIAL AGRICULTURAL APPLICATION OPERATIONS, SPRAYING PESTICIDE ON A LOCAL CORNFIELD. THERE WERE NO WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT.

THE PILOT PROVIDED A STATEMENT TO LOCAL SHERIFF DEPUTIES RESPONDING TO THE SCENE, THAT HE WAS COMING OVER POWER WIRES WHEN HE ENCOUNTERED A WIND ISSUE AND WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE AIRCRAFT. DURING A TELEPHONE INTERVIEW SHORTLY THEREAFTER WITH THE FAA INVESTIGATOR, THE PILOT EXPANDED ON THE STATEMENT TO THE SHERIFF. HE STATED THAT HE HAD COMPLETED A TURN AFTER A SPRAY SWATH APPLICATION AND BEGAN SETTING UP FOR HIS NEXT SWATH, WHEN HE DETERMINED HE WAS DESCENDING. HE APPLIED POWER, DETERMINED THAT HE WAS STILL DESCENDING AND DECIDED TO ATTEMPT TO USE GROUND EFFECT TO RECOVER, WHEN HE RAN OUT OF ALTITUDE AND COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND.

INVESTIGATORS DETERMINED THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD DISPENSED 12 PERCENT OF USABLE CAPACITY AT TIME OF ACCIDENT. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE LANDING GEAR SKIDS, TAIL CONE (BOOM), MAIN AND TAIL ROTOR BLADE SYSTEMS.   THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED THE GROUND AT A HEADING OF APPROXIMATELY 60 DEGREES BOUNCED AND CAME TO REST APPROXIMATELY 30 FEET FROM CONTACT ON THE AIRCRAFT LEFT-HAND SIDE AT A HEADING OF 230 DEGREES.

## 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 GAA17CA401](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA401), Jul 7, 2017: Robinson Helicopter R44 (N3203D), Paoli, IN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's decision to maneuver an overgross weight helicopter at a low altitude and airspeed with a gusting tailwind, which resulted in a high descent rate and collision with terrain. Contributing…

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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