# Accident 20180619008269A: Robinson Helicopter Co R66, Cordova, AK, June 19, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 19, 2018, 10:30 local time
- Place: Cordova, AK
- Airport: Cordova Municipal
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: 3RLA
- Location: 60.6750° N, 144.7419° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.6750&lon=-144.7419&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7040P, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7040P) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R66 (registry code 7640130, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r66) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rolls-Royce 250-C300/A1 (registry code 54232, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c300-a1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER CO R66
- Reported engine: ROLLS-ROYC 250-C300/A1
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 13,000 total, 450 in this make and model, 55 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA18CA366](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA366) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180619008269A

## Narrative

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

ON 6/19/2018 N7040P A ROBINSON R-66 HELICOPTER DEPARTED CORDOVA MUNICIPAL AIRPORT AT 10:30 AM WITH THE PILOT AND 2 PAX ONBOARD, DESTINATION WAS A REMOTE COMMUNICATIONS SITE 30NM EAST OF THE AIRPORT ON THE COPPER RIVER. VFR FLIGHT PLAN FILED WITH JUNEAU FSS ON RCO 122.5. THE WEATHER AT THE TIME WAS VFR WITH SOME LOW FOG IN AREAS IND VISIBLITY OF MORE THAN 10 MILES. AIRCRAFT WAS TO LAND AT A RIDGETOP MICROWAVE TOWER. AN APPROACH TO THE SITE WAS MADE FROM SEVERAL ANGLES TO FIND A SUITABLE LANDING AREA. ON THE LAST ATTEMPT TO DETERMINE AN AREA FOR LANDING THE TAILROTOR CONTACTED SOME BRUSH CAUSING THE HELICOPTER TO PIVOT WITH THE MAIN ROTOR MAKING CONTACT WITH THE COMMUNICATIONS TOWER AT ABOUT 15 FEET AGL. HELICOPTER ROTATED AND ROLLED 180 DEGRESS AND CAME TO REST ON IT'S LEFT SIDE. THE PILOT SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE AND EXITED THE HELICOPTER WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE FRONT PASSENGER EXITED THROUGH THE FRONT WINDOW, REAR PASSENGER EXITED FROM THE RIGHT REAR OF THE AIRCRAFT AFTER THE PILOT REMOVED THE REAR DOOR. THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR POST CRASH FIRE.

## 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 GAA18CA366](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA366), Jun 19, 2018: Robinson R66 (N7040P), Cordova, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in impact with brush and a loss of helicopter control.

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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