# Accident 20180829012489A: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Polly Creek, AK, August 29, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 29, 2018, 17:00 local time
- Place: Polly Creek, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Ground/Ramp/Ma
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: YDAC
- Location: 60.2844° N, 152.4533° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.2844&lon=-152.4533&mi=10
- Aircraft: N99645, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N99645) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (registry code 7640122, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5 (registry code 41899, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-ae1a5) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-540-AE1A5
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,050 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 200 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA18CA534](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA534) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180829012489A

## Narrative

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

WHILE IDLING ON THE GROUND DURING PASSENGER PICKUP, HELICOPTER MAIN ROTOR BLADE WAS STRUCK BY A PASSENGER?S FISHING POLE.  POLE TIP PIERCED THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE OUTER SURFACE, APPROXIMATELY 33 INCHES FROM THE BLADE TIP.

## 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 GAA18CA534](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA534), Aug 30, 2018: Robinson R44 (N99645), Girdwood, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The fisherman's fishing rod striking the helicopter’s rotating main rotor disk during loading.

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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