20190608006239A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Last Chance, CO · June 8, 2019

Date: June 8, 2019 · 11:30 local
Place: Last Chance, CO
Phase of flight: Maneuver
Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
Operator: KS7G
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N4504L
NTSB investigation: NTSBCEN19LA162
Reported as: Robinson Helicopter R44 II
Reported engine: Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 1
Pilot’s certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,539 total1,261 in this make and model50 in the last 90 days

N4504LRegistration cancelled Oct 17, 2020 · Robinson Helicopter R44 IIS/N 13084 · Built 2011 Airframe modelRobinson Helicopter R44 II Engine modelLycoming IO-540-AE1A5Reciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

While conducting part 137 spraying operations near Last Chance, CO, N4504L experienced a loss of main rotor RPM and impacted terrain in the field being sprayed 10 wnw of Last Chance, CO. Initial impact was 183 ft from the final resting spot of the fuselage on a heading of 268. The wreckage was spread out over 20,000 sqft. Day VFR. Pilot onboard with minor injuries.

As the FAA filed it

WHILE CONDUCTING PART 137 SPRAYING OPERATIONS NEAR LAST CHANCE, CO, N4504L EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF MAIN ROTOR RPM AND IMPACTED TERRAIN IN THE FIELD BEING SPRAYED 10 WNW OF LAST CHANCE, CO. INITIAL IMPACT WAS 183 FT FROM THE FINAL RESTING SPOT OF THE FUSELAGE ON A HEADING OF 268. THE WRECKAGE WAS SPREAD OUT OVER 20,000 SQFT. DAY VFR. PILOT ONBOARD WITH MINOR INJURIES.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB CEN19LA162Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportLast Chance, COThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate main rotor rpm while descending with a tailwind during an aerial application maneuver, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent into terrain.Jun 8, 2019 · Substantial damage