# Accident 20180224005179A: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Woodland, CA, February 24, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 24, 2018, 05:50 local time
- Place: Woodland, CA
- Airport: Yolo County Airport
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Climb
- Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
- Location: 38.5931° N, 121.8389° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5931&lon=-121.8389&mi=10
- Aircraft: N630ML, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N630ML-2018-06-18) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (registry code 7640122, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540 series (registry code 41530, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-540 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 3,616 total, 3,500 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA18CA140](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA140) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180224005179A

## Narrative

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

THE HELICOPTER JUST DEPARTED FROM THE YOLO COUNTY AIRPORT ENROUTE TO AN ALMOND ORCHARD ABOUT A MILE NORTHWEST OF THE AIRPORT. THE MISSION WAS TO CONDUCT A FROST CONTROL FLIGHT WHICH REQUIRED TO FLY 15-30 FEET OVER THE TOPS OF ALMOND TREES TO CIRCULATE AIR. IT WAS DARK BUT THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR AND THE PILOT HAD A CLEAR SIGHT OF THE HORIZON . THE PILOT WAS USING AN IPAD TO HELP FIND THE ORCHARD BLOCKS THAT WAS INTENDED TO BE FLOWN OVER. THE HELICOPTER WAS AT ABOUT 300 FEET (PER THE ALTIMETER) WHEN IT WAS REALIZED THAT THE IPAD MAP WAS NOT SHOWING THE PRESENT LOCATION-THE PILOT CHECKED THE HEADING AND ALTITUDE, THEN REACHED DOWN TO TAP THE IPAD SCREEN TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE PILOT MUST HAVE INADVERTANTLY PUSHED THE CYCLIC FORWARD. THE PILOT HAD HIS EYES INSIDE THE COCKPIT FOR ONLY A FEW SECONDS BEFORE HE LOOKED UP. THERE WERE LARGE TREES IN FRONT OF THE HELICOPTER IT WAS EVIDENT THAT IT WAS TOO LATE TO STOP A COLLISION. AS A NORMAL REACTION, THE PILOT MAY HAVE PULLED BACK ON THE CYCLIC. HOWEVER, THE HELICOPTER WENT THROUGH THE TREES AND ENDED IN A FIELD ON ITS SIDE FACING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE SEAT BELT AND CLIMB OUT. THE PILOT STATED THE FOLLOWING: "ALTHOUGH THERE WAS A FIRE, MY FIRE EXTINGUISHER HAD BROKEN IN THE CRASH AND I COULD NOT PUT OU THE FIRE; IT SELF-EXTINGUISHED, POSSIBLY BEFORE EMERGENCY SERVICES ARRIVED."

THE INVESTIGATING INSPECTOR FOUND THE PILOT TO BE FORTHCOMING AND COOPERATIVE, AND TO HAVE A CONSTRUCTIVE AND COMPLIANT ATTITUDE. A SEARCH IN THE FAA'S DATABASES DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY PREVIOUS VIOLATIONS, ACCIDENTS, OR INCIDENT HISTORY.

RECOMMEND COUNSELING.

THIS REPORT MAY BE REVISED WITH ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE

## 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 GAA18CA140](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA140), Feb 24, 2018: Robinson Helicopter R44 (N630ML), Woodland, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s distraction due to her malfunctioning iPad, which led to her inadvertent forward cyclic application.

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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