20180418003799A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Robinson Helicopter R44 · Sonora, TX · April 18, 2018

Date: April 18, 2018 · 11:00 local
Place: Sonora, TX
Phase of flight: Maneuver
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N4487D
NTSB investigation: NTSBGAA18CA247
Reported as: Robinson Helicopter R44
Reported engine: Lycoming O-540-F1B5
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Commercial pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 12,835 total9,537 in this make and model373 in the last 90 days

N4487DRegistration cancelled Oct 30, 2021 · Robinson Helicopter R44S/N 1654 · Built 2006 Airframe modelRobinson Helicopter R44 Engine modelLycoming O-540-F1B5Reciprocating

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.

Sonora, TX. N4487D, R-44, while spotting deer for a ground crew, the helicopter hit the top of a tree and took out the tail rotor. Pilot chopped the throttle to stop the spin and helicopter landed. Due to the spin the helicpoter rolled on its left side. Helicopter was open air with no doors installed, however both occupants wore factory installed seat belts during the accident. Both pilot and crew member walked away with no injuries.

As the FAA filed it

SONORA, TX. N4487D, R-44, WHILE SPOTTING DEER FOR A GROUND CREW, THE HELICOPTER HIT THE TOP OF A TREE AND TOOK OUT THE TAIL ROTOR. PILOT CHOPPED THE THROTTLE TO STOP THE SPIN AND HELICOPTER LANDED. DUE TO THE SPIN THE HELICPOTER ROLLED ON ITS LEFT SIDE. HELICOPTER WAS OPEN AIR WITH NO DOORS INSTALLED, HOWEVER BOTH OCCUPANTS WORE FACTORY INSTALLED SEAT BELTS DURING THE ACCIDENT. BOTH PILOT AND CREW MEMBER WALKED AWAY WITH NO INJURIES.

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 GAA18CA247Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportSonora, TXThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from trees while maneuvering at a low altitude.Apr 18, 2018 · Substantial damage