# Accident 20190715022329A: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Hayward, CA, July 15, 2019

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 15, 2019, 14:26 local time
- Place: Hayward, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.6558° N, 122.1236° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6558&lon=-122.1236&mi=10
- Aircraft: N144TG, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N144TG-2019-12-16) (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: 1
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 3,020 total, 25 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR19FA188](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19FA188) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190715022329A

## Narrative

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

THE CFI WAS PERFORMING AN INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT W/A STUDENT PILOT.

AFTER COMPLETING SEVERAL TRAINING FLIGHTS WITHIN THE PATTERN, THE CFI AND STUDENT RELOCATED N144TG TO A DESIGNATED AREA.  WHILE HOVERING, ATC WAS CONTACTED AND A REQUEST MADE TO AGAIN ENTER INTO THE LOCAL PATTERN.  THIS REQUEST WAS DENIED DUE TO HEAVY TRAFFIC.  DURING AN APPROX. 6 MIN. HOVER, FLIGHT TRACK DATA SHOWED THE AIRCRAFT SLOWLY MANEUVERING WEST OVER A VEGETATED AREA.

LOCAL VIDEO SURVEILLANCE CAPTURED THE SHADOW AND FINAL MOVEMENTS OF N144TG WITH THE A/C NOSE FACING WEST AND THE FUSELAGE DRIFTING TO THE LEFT IN A SOUTHERN DIRECTION.

IN THE FINAL MOVEMENT, N144TG MADE A RAPID TURN NORTH IN A HIGH ANGLE OF BANK, ENDING IN A CLOUD OF DUST BEFORE DISAPPEARING FROM VIDEO VIEW.

THE AIRCRAFT WAS FOUND LAYING ON ITS LEFT SIDE WITH SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE ABOUT 50FT FROM A NEARBY TAXIWAY AND AT THE TOP OF A 4FT.BERM AT A HEADING OF 52* MAGNETIC. THE MAJORITY OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS INTACT W/FEW PARTS DEPARTING AND LOCALIZED.

FIRST RESPONDERS REMOVED THE DECEASED CFI FROM THE AIRCRAFT AND TRANSPORTED THE STUDENT PILOT TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL WITH SERIOUS INJURY AFTER BEING EJECTED THROUGH THE FWD RIGHT WINDSCREEN.

TWO GROUND SCARS WERE LOCATED ADJACENT TO THE MAIN WRECKAGE EST 14' AWAY AND APPROXIMATELY 95" IN LENGTH.

TWO GROUND SCARS WERE CO-LOCATED NEAR THE MAIN WRECKAGE AND MARKED BY 2EA - 5" HOLES.

WEATHER WAS CLEAR, DRY AND WINDS AT 11 KNOTS. VISIBILITY 10MI, TEMPERATURE 22*C AND ALTIMETER SETTING OF 30.01 INCHES OF MERCURY.

## 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 WPR19FA188](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19FA188), Jul 15, 2019: Robinson R44 (N144TG), Hayward, CA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilots’ loss of control during a low altitude maneuver for undetermined reasons, which resulted in impact with terrain.

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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