# Accident 20220412005329A: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Calhoun, GA, April 12, 2022

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 12, 2022, 17:00 local time
- Place: Calhoun, GA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Rotation
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.4763° N, 84.9324° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4763&lon=-84.9324&mi=10
- Aircraft: N426DB, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N426DB-2023-07-12) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (registry code 7640122, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5 (registry code 41899, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-ae1a5) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-540-AE1A5
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 8,018 total, 385 in this make and model, 43 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA22LA188](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA188) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220412005329A

## Narrative

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

PILOT WAS TAKING 3 PASSENGERS FOR A JOY RIDE FLIGHT. PILOT LANDED AIRCRAFT ON A VACANT 2 ACRE LOT, WHICH HE OWNED IN CALHOUN, GA. THE LOT WAS BETWEEN A RESTAURANT AND SEVERAL BUSINESS BUILDINGS. POWER POLES AND LINES WERE LOCATED ON THE OUTER EDGE OF THE LOT. PILOT WANTED TO DEMONSTRATE THE OPERATION OF THE HELICOPTER TO ONE OF THE PASSENGERS WHO WAS SITTING IN ONE OF THE FRONT SEATS. PILOT HAD PREVIOUSLY LANDED ON THE LOT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND WAS WELL AWARE OF THE POWER POLES AND LINES LOCATED ON THE OUTER EDGE OF THE FIELD. AIRCRAFT APPROACH THE FIELD FROM THE SOUTH DIRECTION AND THEN TURNED TO THE NORTH DIRECTION PRIOR TO A BRIEF LANDING. AIRCRAFT LIFTED OFF FOR A TAKE OFF AND DID A 180 DEGREE TURN AROUND IN THE NORTHWEST SIDE OF THE FIELD. PILOT BACKED UP THE AIRCRAFT TO HAVE MORE DISTANCE FOR GAINING ALTITUDE TO CLIMB ON THE OPPOSITE END OF THE LOT. PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN PROPER DISTANCE BETWEEN THE AIRCRAFT AND THE POWER LINES. AIRCRAFT TAIL  ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE POWER LINES. AIRCRAFT STARTED SPINNING AND PILOT COULD NOT MAINTAIN CONTROL. THE AIRCRAFT TAIL ROTOR AND MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK A COMMERCIAL BUILDING. THE AIRCRAFT SPUN 180 DEGREES AND THEN CRASH LANDED ON ITS LH SIDE. ALL OCCUPANTS WALKED AWAY FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THERE WAS NO RAIN OR HEAVY WINDS NOTED. SKY WAS CLOUDY BUT VISIBILITY WAS GOOD. THERE WAS NO OTHER PENDING FACTORS THAT COULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT.

## 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 ERA22LA188](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA188), Apr 12, 2022: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (N426DB), Calhoun, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from wires during takeoff.

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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