# Accident 20210422009659A: Robinson Helicopter R44, Forkston, PA, April 22, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 22, 2021, 21:04 local time
- Place: Forkston, PA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.4890° N, 76.1839° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4890&lon=-76.1839&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4055N, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4055N) (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: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,285 total, 92 in this make and model, 32 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA21LA191](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA191) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210422009659A

## Narrative

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

THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT DEPARTED ALLENTOWN QUEEN CITY MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (XLL) AT APPROXIMATELY 20:10 LOCAL TIME ENROUTE TO BRADFORD COUNTY AIRPORT (N27).  PRELIMINARY RADAR TRACK DATA SHOWED THE AIRCRAFT FLYING NORTHWEST AT A CRUISE ALTITUDE BETWEEN 3,000 TO 4,000 FEET MSL.  AT 21:04, THE RADAR TRACK DATA SHOWS THE AIRCRAFT STARTING A RIGHT TURNING DESCENT, WITH RADAR TRACK DATA BEING LOST AT 21:04:30.

THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK TREES AND TERRAIN VERTICALLY AND CAME TO REST AT A GROUND ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 2170 FEET.  THE AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE WAS CONTAINED WITH-IN A 30 FOOT DIAMETER, SHOWING LITTLE FORWARD MOMENTUM.

UPON IMPACT, THE MAIN ROTOR GEAR SET AND MAIN ROTOR SEPARATED FROM THE MAIN GEARBOX AND CAME TO REST FORWARD OF THE CABIN.  THE TAIL BOOM SEPARATED AFT OF THE ENGINE WITH THE TAIL ROTOR BEING LOCATED NEARBY.  THE CABIN WAS CONSUMED BY POST ACCIDENT FIRE.  ALL THE MAJOR COMPONENTS WERE ACCOUNTED FOR.

## 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 ERA21LA191](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA191), Apr 23, 2021: Robinson Helicopter R44 (N4055N), Forkston, PA, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate preflight weather planning, which resulted in an inadvertent encounter with instrument meteorological conditions at night, spatial disorientation, and collision 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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