# Accident 20180504004609A: Robinson Helicopter R44, East Troy, WI, May 4, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 4, 2018, 11:55 local time
- Place: East Troy, WI
- Airport: East Troy Municipal
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: 4MFG
- Location: 42.7969° N, 88.3725° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7969&lon=-88.3725&mi=10
- Aircraft: N444VH, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N444VH) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 (registry code 7640120, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540 series (registry code 41532, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-540 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 1,807 total, 1,102 in this make and model, 66 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN18LA158](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA158) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180504004609A

## Narrative

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

ON MAY 4, 2018 CLEAR VFR DAY THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND COMMERCIAL PILOT TOOK OFF TO CONDUCT HOVER TRAINING WITH AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED.  WHILE TAXING TO GRASS RUNWAY 36 THE HELICOPTER EXPERIENCED A VERY LOUD VIBRATION, A LOSS OF POWER AND THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR TOOK OVER THE CONTROLS TO LAND.  THE HELICOPTER YAWED TO THE LEFT.  CFI ADDED FULL RIGHT PEDAL TO TRY LEVEL OUT AT THAT SAME TIME THE LOW RPM WARNING SYSTEM HAD COME ON.  THEY WERE ABOUT TWO FEET OFF THE GROUND. CFI RAISED THE COLLETIVE TO CUSHION LANDING BUT WITH THE SIDWAYS MOVEMENT, THE RIGHT SKID CAUGHT THE GRASS AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER.

## 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 CEN18LA158](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA158), May 4, 2018: Robinson Helicopter R44 (N444VH), East Troy, WI, substantial damage. Probable cause: A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information, which resulted in impact with terrain and dynamic rollover during the subsequent attempted…

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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