# Accident 20190402002349A: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Taunton, MA, April 2, 2019

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 2, 2019, 12:43 local time
- Place: Taunton, MA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.8744° N, 71.0164° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8744&lon=-71.0164&mi=10
- Aircraft: N344R, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N344R-2021-12-04) (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: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 901 total, 116 in this make and model, 32 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA19CA195](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA195) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190402002349A

## Narrative

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

PILOT IS SEEN IN THE ACCIDENT VIDEO AS COMING TO AN UNSTABLE HOVER APPROXIMATELY 7 FEET FROM THE TARMAC. HE LANDED AND WAITED A MINUTE BEFORE COMING TO ANOTHER UNSTABLE HOVER AT THE SAME DISTANCE FROM THE TARMAC. THE PILOT LANDED AFTER THE SECOND HOVER ATTEMPT AND AFTER A MINUTE, CAME TO ANOTHER UNSTABLIZED HOVER APPROXIMATELY TWO FEET FROM THE TARMAC. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO STABILIZE THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO INITIATE A RIGHT HAND TURN FROM LESS THAN TWO FEET ALTITUDE. THE FRONT EDGE OF THE RIGHT SKID CAUGHT THE GOUND AND THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED ON ITS RIGHT SIDE AND CAME TO REST.

## 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 GAA19CA195](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA195), Apr 2, 2019: Robinson R44 (N344R), Taunton, MA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper decision to land with a gusting left quartering tailwind and his subsequent attempt to reposition the helicopter and take off, which resulted in a dynamic rollover.

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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