# Accident 20231001014119A: Robinson Helicopter R44, Hochatown, OK, October 1, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 1, 2023, 13:32 local time
- Place: Hochatown, OK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.1603° N, 94.7522° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1603&lon=-94.7522&mi=10
- Aircraft: N379SH, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N379SH-2024-04-20) (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: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,312 total, 600 in this make and model, 100 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN24LA004](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA004) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231001014119A

## Narrative

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

AFTER DEPARTING A PRIVATE HELIPORT IN HOCHATOWN, OK THE PILOT MANEUVERED THE AIRCRAFT AT 400 FEET AGL TO PRACTICE AN AUTO-ROTATION MANEUVER IN A FIELD 0.3 MILES SOUTH/SOUTHEAST OF THE DEPARTURE POINT.  AFTER STARTING THE MANEUVER AND BRINGING THE THROTTLE TO IDLE, THE ENGINE LOST POWER.  THE PILOT EXECUTED AN AUTO ROTATION INTO THE FIELD.  THE HELICOPTER WAS ON AN APPROXIMATE 360 HEADING WHEN THIS OCCURRED, THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND AND CAME TO REST ON A 210 HEADING. AFTER IMPACTING THE GROUND, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES HIT THE TAIL BOOM, SEVERING THE BOOM AND TAIL ROTOR FROM THE REST OF THE AIRCRAFT.  THE FRONT OF THE LEFT SKID WAS FOUND BROKEN IN BETWEEN AN IMPACT MARK ON THE GROUND AND THE HELICOPTER.  THE MARK WAS APPROXIMATELY 7 FEET FROM THE HELICOPTER.  THE BROKEN TAIL SECTION PIECES OF THE HELICOPTER WERE FOUND BEHIND (NORTHEAST) THE MAIN AIRCRAFT IN A DEBRIS FIELD THAT EXTENDED APPROXIMATELY 82 FEET.  THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO THE PILOT.

## 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 CEN24LA004](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA004), Oct 1, 2023: Robinson Helicopter R44 (N379SH), Hochatown, OK, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power during a practice autorotation due to the improper engine idle setting and rigging of the carburetor heat control which resulted in a hard landing.

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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