20191214021429A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Robinson Helicopter R44 II · San Antonio, TX · December 14, 2019

Date: December 14, 2019 · 16:50 local
Place: San Antonio, TX
Phase of flight: Climb
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N440AH
NTSB investigation: NTSBERA20LA054
Reported as: Robinson Helicopter R44 II
People aboard: 3
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 1
Pilot’s certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,391 total

N440AHRegistration cancelled Jun 5, 2021 · Robinson Helicopter R44 IIS/N 12803 · Built 2010 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.

On December 14, 2019 at 1450 CST. N440AH a Robinson R44 rii helicopter, while conducting an air tour operation, the aircraft encountered a loud bang and a loss of power. The pilot initiated an auto rotation and while attempting to land struck a power line crossing the street. The pilot and passengers received minor injuries. Day VFR conditions existed.

As the FAA filed it

ON DECEMBER 14, 2019 AT 1450 CST. N440AH A ROBINSON R44 RII HELICOPTER, WHILE CONDUCTING AN AIR TOUR OPERATION, THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED A LOUD BANG AND A LOSS OF POWER. THE PILOT INITIATED AN AUTO ROTATION AND WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND STRUCK A POWER LINE CROSSING THE STREET. THE PILOT AND PASSENGERS RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. DAY VFR CONDITIONS EXISTED.

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 ERA20LA054Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportSan Antonio, TXMaintenance personnel’s failure to complete all necessary steps of a service bulletin and subsequent failure to identify the loose lower actuator bearing support bracket during inspections, which resulted in the misalignment of the clutch actuator, resulted…Dec 14, 2019 · Substantial damage