20180127011999I

Incident · Minor damage

FAA incident report · Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Kaneohe, HI · January 27, 2018

Date: January 27, 2018 · 11:30 local
Place: Kaneohe, HI
Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Minor damage
Aircraft: N488JB
Reported as: Robinson Helicopter R44 II
Reported engine: Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5
People aboard: 4
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,800 total500 in this make and model71 in the last 90 days

N488JBRegistered now · Robinson Helicopter R44 IIS/N 13379 · Built 2012 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.

During a confined area takeoff on in a residential area, pilot departed in an airspeed-over-altitude profile. Main rotor blades struck tree branches on the left side of the aircraft. Pilot did not notice any unusual vibrations and the aircraft flew normally. Pilot stated he was unaware the rotor blades struck the tree. During the post flight inspection pilot noticed what appeared to be a bird strike on the main rotor blades. Pilot completed the required blade strike inspection and performed a 100 hour inspection. Minor damage was noted on both blades. Operator decided to replace both blades. Operator sent damaged blades to Robinson for further inspection.

As the FAA filed it

DURING A CONFINED AREA TAKEOFF ON IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA, PILOT DEPARTED IN AN AIRSPEED-OVER-ALTITUDE PROFILE. MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK TREE BRANCHES ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT. PILOT DID NOT NOTICE ANY UNUSUAL VIBRATIONS AND THE AIRCRAFT FLEW NORMALLY. PILOT STATED HE WAS UNAWARE THE ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE TREE. DURING THE POST FLIGHT INSPECTION PILOT NOTICED WHAT APPEARED TO BE A BIRD STRIKE ON THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES. PILOT COMPLETED THE REQUIRED BLADE STRIKE INSPECTION AND PERFORMED A 100 HOUR INSPECTION. MINOR DAMAGE WAS NOTED ON BOTH BLADES. OPERATOR DECIDED TO REPLACE BOTH BLADES. OPERATOR SENT DAMAGED BLADES TO ROBINSON FOR FURTHER INSPECTION.