# Accident 20180930016549A: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Westminster, MD, September 30, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 30, 2018, 17:35 local time
- Place: Westminster, MD
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Departure Roll
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.5714° N, 76.9897° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5714&lon=-76.9897&mi=10
- Aircraft: N440SH, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N440SH) (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: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 667 total, 207 in this make and model, 71 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA18LA269](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18LA269) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180930016549A

## Narrative

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

ON 9/30/18 AT 1735 HOURS THE PILOT WAS OPERATING THE AIRCRAFT FROM THE TOP OF A PARKING GARAGE PERFORMING SIGHTSEEING RIDES. THE PILOT AND GROUND CREW LOADED 3 PASSENGERS ON THE AIRCRAFT AND THEN BEGAN TAKEOFF.  THE PILOT REPORTED THAT IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKEOFF HE NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE HAD AN OVERSPEED CONDITION TO APPROXIMATELY 110%. UPON IDENTIFYING THIS CONDITION THE PILOT INITIATED AN EMERGENCY LANDING AND SAFELY LANDED THE AIRCRAFT ON THE PARKING GARAGE APPROXIMATELY 150 FEET FROM THE STARTING POINT.  AT THIS TIME THE 3 PASSENGERS WERE REMOVED. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT'S INITIAL STATEMENT, HE THEN ATTEMPTED TO REPOSITION THE AIRCRAFT TO ITS ORIGINAL POSITION.  THE AIRCRAFT THEN BEGAN TO SPIN, NOSE TO THE LEFT.  THE OWNER OF THE COMPANY WAS STANDING NEARBY AND REPORTED HAVING TO DUCK TO AVOID BEING HIT BY THE TAIL ROTOR.  DURING THE SPIN THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A CAR PARKED NEARBY, DAMAGING THE TAIL ROTOR, VERTICAL STABILIZER, AND TAIL BOOM.   THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST AFTER ABOUT A 360 DEGREE SPIN, BASED ON THE MARKS LEFT IN THE CONCRETE BY THE SKIDS.

METAR KFDK 302247Z 00000KT 10SM SKC 22/16 A3030

## 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 ERA18LA269](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18LA269), Sep 30, 2018: Robinson R44 (N440SH), Westminster, MD, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's attempt to move the helicopter from a sloped surface after an overspeed event, which resulted in a loss of helicopter control and impact with a car. The overspeed event resulted from…

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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