20210830014029A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Gustavus, AK · August 30, 2021

Date: August 30, 2021 · 15:00 local
Place: Gustavus, AK
Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N779DZ
NTSB investigation: NTSBANC21LA080
Reported as: Robinson Helicopter R44 II
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
Pilot’s flight hours: 2,770 total560 in this make and model48 in the last 90 days

N779DZRegistered now · Robinson Helicopter R44 IIS/N 10149 · Built 2003 Airframe modelRobinson Helicopter R44 II Engine modelLycoming IO-540 seriesReciprocating

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.

Pilot was relocating to site of previous company hard landing at remote repeater site. Landing to be made on improved 12X12 wooden platform on sloped mountain side. Normal approach was made and touchdown completed on pad. When pilot reduced collective for shutdown, aircraft rocked back on pad because skid heels were not fully on platform. Aircraft fell back onto mountain and rolled twice before coming to rest on its side. No injuries to sole occupant.

As the FAA filed it

PILOT WAS RELOCATING TO SITE OF PREVIOUS COMPANY HARD LANDING AT REMOTE REPEATER SITE. LANDING TO BE MADE ON IMPROVED 12X12 WOODEN PLATFORM ON SLOPED MOUNTAIN SIDE. NORMAL APPROACH WAS MADE AND TOUCHDOWN COMPLETED ON PAD. WHEN PILOT REDUCED COLLECTIVE FOR SHUTDOWN, AIRCRAFT ROCKED BACK ON PAD BECAUSE SKID HEELS WERE NOT FULLY ON PLATFORM. AIRCRAFT FELL BACK ONTO MOUNTAIN AND ROLLED TWICE BEFORE COMING TO REST ON ITS SIDE. NO INJURIES TO SOLE OCCUPANT.

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 ANC21LA080Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPelican, AKThe pilot’s loss of control while landing on a remote helipad.Aug 31, 2021 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N779DZ · 2

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 20151006017949AGround/Ramp/Ma · Neets Bay, AKDescription: Helicopter was being operated off a metal barge in Neets Bay, Alaska to support remote helipad construction and or repair. As the pilot started the helicopter and engaged the clutch, the helicopter began a rapid right yaw. The pilot applied left…Oct 6, 2015 · Substantial damage Accident 20110515008859AGround/Ramp/Ma · Larson Lake, AKThe airman dropped off passengers on a river bank after landing. The aircraft was swept into vegetation on shore before the airman could water taxi away or take off, resulting in a rotor strike. There were no injuries and the aircraft sustained substantial…May 15, 2011 · Substantial damage