# Accident 20180419003819A: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Fairbanks, AK, April 19, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 19, 2018, 16:00 local time
- Place: Fairbanks, AK
- Airport: Chena Marina
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 64.8139° N, 147.9220° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.8139&lon=-147.9220&mi=10
- Aircraft: N511CC, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N511CC-2021-05-08) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (registry code 7640122, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540 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: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 4,300 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 78 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC18LA032](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC18LA032) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180419003819A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE PICKED UP THE HELICOPTER FROM THE PAD TO ABOUT A 10 FOOT AGL HOVER PROFILE (IN GROUND EFFECT). THE PAD WAS CLOSE TO VARIOUS TREES. THE HELICOPTER WAS ORIGINALLY FACING WEST, THE PILOT CONDUCTED A PEDAL TURN TO THE SOUTH, TO FACE TO THE EAST (ABOUT 180 DEGREES). HE REPORTED AS THE HELICOPTER WAS TURNING, A GUST OF WIND FROM THE NE, PUSHED THE HELICOPTER INTO THE TREES. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES IMPACTED THE TREES, AND THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED THE GROUND AND A SNOW BANK. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO EGRESS WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.

## 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 ANC18LA032](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC18LA032), Apr 20, 2018: Robinson Helicopter R44 (N511CC), Fairbanks, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain helicopter control while in a hovering turn, which resulted in a collision with obstacles.

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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