# Accident 20230509002709A: Robinson Helicopter R44 II, Skwentna, AK, May 9, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 9, 2023, 12:15 local time
- Place: Skwentna, AK
- Airport: Skwentna
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: EMVC
- Location: 61.7746° N, 151.7413° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.7746&lon=-151.7413&mi=10
- Aircraft: N704T, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N704T) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (registry code 7640123, 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 R44 II
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 3
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 13,800 total, 389 in this make and model, 40 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC23LA032](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA032) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230509002709A

## Narrative

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

PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS (180 LBS. AND 160 LBS.) PLUS GEAR (90LBS) IN R44-II HELICOPTER CONDUCTING SURVEY AROUND NOON AT FIRST OF THREE SURVEY POINTS. FUEL ON BOARD ABOUT 1.2 HRS (19 GAL = 194 LBS.). IT STARTED SNOWING, THEY WERE GOING TO RETURN TO BASE, THEN DECIDED TO TRY AND COMPLETE ONE MORE TASK. LESS THAN ONE MILE FROM FIRST SURVEY SITE WAS A WEATHER STATION ... WITH THE WEATHER STATION IN VIEW, PILOT HEADED UP THE HILL TO GET A PHOTOGRAPH. THEY FLEW SOUTHBOUND FROM PREVIOUS SITE TOWARDS MET TOWER, UP HILLSIDE, NO INDICATION OF WIND. THE PILOT STATED HE THOUGHT HE WAS ABOUT 50 FEET ABOVE GROUND IN A HOVER WHEN "WE ENCOUNTERED WHITE OUT CONDITIONS." THE PILOT SAID HE WAS PULLING ABOUT 22-23 INCHES OF MANIFOLD PRESSURE IN OUT OF GROUND EFFECT HOVER.PILOT PREVIOUSLY HAD LOWER TERRAIN AND BRUSH IN SIGHT FOR REFERENCE, BUT DID NOT HAVE THIS VISUAL REFERENCE UPON INITIATING ESCAPE PLAN OF  PULLING POWER AND MOVING/TURNING RIGHT.  UPON INITIATING POWER INCREASE AND RIGHT TURN, SKID GEAR CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE TERRAIN AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER.  PILOT AND FRONT PASSENGERS SUFFERED MINOR CUTS ON HANDS "AS FRONT WINDSHIELD HAD BROKE."

## 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 ANC23LA032](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA032), May 9, 2023: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (N704T), Skwentna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude/clearance from terrain while maneuvering in adverse weather conditions, which resulted in a dynamic rollover.

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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