# Accident 20201220019289A: Robinson Helicopter R44, Morris, IL, December 20, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 20, 2020, 16:43 local time
- Place: Morris, IL
- Airport: Morris Municipal - James R Washburn
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Other, Specify
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.4287° N, 88.4208° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4287&lon=-88.4208&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3264U, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3264U) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 (registry code 7640120, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O-540-F1B5 (registry code 42353, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-540-f1b5) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O-540-F1B5
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,581 total, 268 in this make and model, 35 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN21LA095](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA095) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201220019289A

## Narrative

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

TIME OF ACCIDENT 1645 LOCAL (2245 Z).

ASOS DATA SHOWS WIND AT 1615 LOCAL (2215 Z) AS 250 DEGREES @ 7 K, NO GUSTS.  ASOS DATA SHOWS WIND AT 1635 LOCAL (2235 Z) AS 240 DEGREES @ 6 K, NO GUSTS.  ASOS DATA SHOWS WIND AT 1655 LOCAL (2255 Z) AS 250 DEGREES @ 6 K, NO GUSTS.

THE PILOT WAS PRACTICING LANDINGS FROM A HOVER WHILE FACING DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS.  HE OPERATED ON THE RAMP AREA SOUTH OF THE FBO.  A VIDEO WAS SUPPLIED BY THE AIRPORT.  TOTAL LENGTH 1 MINUTE 6 SECONDS.

AT THE BEGINNING, THE  HELICOPTER IS ON THE GROUND FACING SOUTH.  THE PILOT PICKS UP THE HELICOPTER, DOES A RIGHT PEDAL TURN TO FACE WEST AND SETS THE HELICOPTER DOWN AT 25 SECONDS.  AT 34 SECONDS, THE PILOT PICKS THE HELICOPTER UP TO A HOVER.  AT 35 SECONDS, THERE WAS A SKIP IN THE VIDEO.  AT 36 SECONDS, THE VIDEO SHOWS A LEFT PEDAL TURN, WITH A LITTLE RIGHT DRIFT TO FACE THE HELICOPTER EAST.  AT 53 SECONDS, THE HEELS OF THE SKIDS TOUCH DOWN.  AT 54 SECONDS, THE HELICOPTER IS SOLIDLY ON THE GROUND.  AT 55 SECONDS, THE PILOT BEGINS A LIFTOFF.  THE RIGHT SKID LEAVES THE GROUND FIRST.  AT 56 SECONDS, THE HELICOPTER IS OFF THE GROUND.  IT BEGINS A RAPID RIGHT YAW AND AT 57 SECONDS, IT IS POINTED SOUTHEAST AND IS IN APPROXIMATELY A 30 DEGREE LEFT BANK.  WITH THE TIME STILL SHOWING 57 SECONDS, THE HELICOPTER HAS ROTATED TO A SOUTH HEADING, APPROXIMATELY 30 DEGREES NOSE UP AND THE TAIL STRIKES THE CONCRETE RAMP.  AT 58 SECONDS, THE HELICOPTER HAS ROTATED TO A SOUTHWEST HEADING, 30 DEGREES NOSE UP AND THE SKIDS ARE ABOUT 20 FEET ABOVE GROUND.  AT 59 SECONDS, THE HELICOPTER HAS ROTATED TO A NORTH HEADING.  AT 60 SECONDS, THE HELICOPTER HAS ROTATED TO A SOUTHEAST HEADING, ABOUT A 60 DEGREE RIGHT BANK AND 60 DEGREE NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE AND 30 FEET SKID HEIGHT.  AT 61 SECONDS, THE HELICOPTER HITS THE GROUND IN THE GRASS EAST OF THE RAMP, FACING NORTHWEST AND ROLLS ONTO ITS RIGHT SIDE.

## 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 CEN21LA095](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA095), Dec 20, 2020: Robinson Helicopter R44 (N3264U), Morris, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate pedal application during liftoff with a tailwind, which resulted in a loss of yaw control and a subsequent 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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