20211229021489A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Cosby, TN · December 29, 2021

Date: December 29, 2021 · 14:21 local
Place: Cosby, TN
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N544SC
NTSB investigation: NTSBERA22FA096
Reported as: Robinson Helicopter R44 II
Reported engine: Lycoming IO-540 series
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 1
Other injuries: 1
Pilot’s certificate: Commercial pilot

N544SCRegistration cancelled Jul 22, 2023 · Robinson Helicopter R44 IIS/N 10884 · Built 2005 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.

Accident aircraft departed gkt at 1413 eastbound. Aircraft flew through valleys in an easterly/southeasterly direction at altitudes between 1,200 ft and 1,750 ft. an eyewitness near the accident site stated he first heard the helicopter coming, then witnessed it fly out of the fog and impact trees.

As the FAA filed it

ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT DEPARTED GKT AT 1413 EASTBOUND. AIRCRAFT FLEW THROUGH VALLEYS IN AN EASTERLY/SOUTHEASTERLY DIRECTION AT ALTITUDES BETWEEN 1,200 FT AND 1,750 FT. AN EYEWITNESS NEAR THE ACCIDENT SITE STATED HE FIRST HEARD THE HELICOPTER COMING, THEN WITNESSED IT FLY OUT OF THE FOG AND IMPACT TREES.

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 ERA22FA096Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportCosby, TNThe pilot’s intentional, continued flight into instrument meteorological conditions in a helicopter that was not certified for instrument conditions, which resulted in a loss of helicopter control and a collision with trees and terrain.Dec 29, 2021 · Substantial damage