# Accident 20210405005839A: Robinson Helicopter R44, Johnson City, KS, April 5, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 5, 2021, 17:00 local time
- Place: Johnson City, KS
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.6672° N, 101.9880° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6672&lon=-101.9880&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8348X, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8348X) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 (registry code 7640120, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540F1 SERIE (registry code 41531, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540f1-serie) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-540F1 SERIE
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 2,235 total, 64 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN21LA184](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA184) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210405005839A

## Narrative

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

THE AIRCRAFT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^PILOT STATED HE AND HIS PASSENGER/SON WERE FLYING OUT TO CHECK CROPS. HIS ADULT SON WAS RIDING ALONG BECAUSE HE WANTS TO BE A PILOT TOO.  AUTOMATIC WEATHER REPORTING FROM KJHN WAS CLEAR WITH WINDS AT 180 DEGREES AT 10 KTS GUSTING TO 14 KTS. PILOT SAID THEY WERE IN A LOW HOVER WHEN THE AIRCRAFT SUDDENLY YAWED THROUGH 1 TO 1.5 TURNS BEFORE GROUND CONTACT IN A LEFT SKID LOW ATTITUDE. THE AIRCRAFT SKIDS WERE DAMAGED ENOUGH TO BE SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THERE WAS NO VISIBLE EVIDENCE OF MAIN BLADE CONTACT WITH THE TAIL BOOM. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES DID CONTACT THE GROUND AND SUSTAINED TWISTING AND BENDING DAMAGE BUT REMAINED CONNECTED TO THE MAIN ROTOR HEAD. BOTH PEOPLE EGRESSED WITHOUT INJURY. THE FAA GAVE PERMISSION TO MOVE THE WRECK TO THE OWNER?S BARN. IN THE BARN, HE MANIPULATED THE TAIL ROTOR TO SEE IF IT WAS CONNECTED TO THE DRIVELINE. HE STATED THAT IT WAS PROPERLY CONNECTED TO THE DRIVESHAFT AND THE PITCH CONTROLS.

## 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 CEN21LA184](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA184), Apr 5, 2021: Robinson Helicopter R44 (N8348X), Johnson, KS, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate pedal application during a transition to hover, 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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