20170803017929A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Solomon, AK · August 3, 2017

Date: August 3, 2017 · 10:32 local
Place: Solomon, AK
Phase of flight: Maneuver
Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
Operator: FXTA
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N4138M
NTSB investigation: NTSBANC17LA040
Reported as: Robinson Helicopter R44 II
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 2
Pilot’s certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
Pilot’s flight hours: 3,800 total300 in this make and model120 in the last 90 days

N4138MRegistration cancelled Feb 4, 2023 · Robinson Helicopter R44 IIS/N 12159 · Built 2008 Airframe modelRobinson Helicopter R44 II Engine modelLycoming IO-540-AE1A5Reciprocating

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 stated he was lower than he should have been and lost situational awareness when working with the GPS. He might have pushed forward on the

Cyclic as he leaned forward to the GPS unit. The first indication of a problem was the helicopter slowing and water appearing on the bubble.

The helcopter quickly rolled onto its right side in about 3-4 feet of water.

As the FAA filed it

PILOT STATED HE WAS LOWER THAN HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN AND LOST SITUATIONAL AWARENESS WHEN WORKING WITH THE GPS. HE MIGHT HAVE PUSHED FORWARD ON THE

CYCLIC AS HE LEANED FORWARD TO THE GPS UNIT. THE FIRST INDICATION OF A PROBLEM WAS THE HELICOPTER SLOWING AND WATER APPEARING ON THE BUBBLE.

THE HELCOPTER QUICKLY ROLLED ONTO ITS RIGHT SIDE IN ABOUT 3-4 FEET OF WATER.

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 ANC17LA040Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportSolomon, AKThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude above water, and his loss of situational awareness, which resulted in an inadvertent descent and collision with water.Aug 3, 2017 · Substantial damage