# Accident 20240207008509A: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Planterville, MS, February 7, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 7, 2024, 18:51 local time
- Place: Planterville, MS
- Airport: Tupelo Regional Airport
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.2272° N, 88.6330° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2272&lon=-88.6330&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4054Y, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4054Y) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (registry code 7640122, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-540
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 200 total, 200 in this make and model, 16 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN24LA112](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA112) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240207008509A

## Narrative

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

AIRCRAFT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ R44 DEPARTED TUPELO REGIONAL AIRPORT(KTUP)AND CRASHED IN A POND LOCATED ON STATE PARK ROAD UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES. THE AIRCRAFT IS SUBMERGED. (DELAYED NOTIFICATION) POB: 1, INJURIES: NONE, DAMAGE: DESTROYED

PILOT STATEMENT.

1.PILOT " IT WAS EXTREMELY DARK, AND PILOT CLIMBED TO 1100 MSL. 2.PILOT SPOTTED HIS LANDING ZONE LIGHTS (LZ)

3.PILOT HAD FLOWN IN HIGH TO AVOID TREES.

4.PILOT HAD MADE SEVERAL CIRCLES OF THE LZ.

5.PILOT TURNED SOUTH FOR FINAL DECENT.

6.PILOT WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE WATER.

7. PILOT WAS UNABLE TO JUDGE DISTANCE TO WATER.

8.PILOT MADE THE DISCISSION TO RETURN TO KTUP.

10.TAIL ROTOR HAD MADE CONTACT WITH WATER.

11.PILOT BEGIN TO PULL-UP AND AIRCRAFT STARTED TO SPIN UNCONTROLLABLY.

12.PILOT CUT POWER DUMPED COLLECTIVE MOVED CYCLIC TO THE RIGHT.

13.PILOT KICKED OUT WINDSHIELD AND SWAM TO SHORE.

PILOT WAS TAKEN TO LOCAL HOSPITAL FOR OBSERVATION AND HYPERTHERMIA.

## 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 CEN24LA112](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA112), Feb 7, 2024: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (N4054Y), Tupelo, MS, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from water during a dark night 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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