# Accident 20240602009529A: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Gilbertsville, KY, June 2, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 2, 2024, 14:00 local time
- Place: Gilbertsville, KY
- Airport: Kentucky Dam State Park
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Other, Specify
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.9370° N, 88.2293° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9370&lon=-88.2293&mi=10
- Aircraft: N220SW, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N220SW) (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: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 14,000 total, 500 in this make and model, 5 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA24LA236](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA236) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240602009529A

## Narrative

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

ACCORDING TO THE PILOT'S STATEMENT, HE DEPARTED FROM HIS HOME IN CARMI, IL AND FLEW TO HIS LAKE HOUSE ON KENTUCKY LAKE INITIALLY LANDED AIRCRAFT WITHOUT INCIDENT. HE STATED HE APPROACHED OFF THE LAKE ON A NORTHEAST HEADING TOWARD THE LANDING PAD WHICH WAS LOCATED IN THE BACKYARD OF THE LAKE HOUSE.  HE DECIDED TO BETTER POSITION THE AIRCRAFT TO A FLATTER AREA, RAISED THE COLLECTED TO TAKE THE WEIGHT OFF THE HELICOPTER. HELICOPTER BEGAN TO SLIDE BACKWARDS AT WHICH TIME THE PILOT INDICATED THE AFT END OF THE RIGHT TUBE DUG INTO THE GROUND CAUSING DYNAMIC ROLL OVER CONDITIONS.  THE TAIL ROTOR STRUCK THE GROUND THEN CAUSING THE HELICOPTER TO ROLL LEFT IMPACTING THE MAIN ROTORS IN THE GROUND. HELICOPTER CAME TO REST UPSIDE DOWN. PILOT WAS REMOVED FROM AIRCRAFT BY A FRIEND ALREADY ON THE GROUND AND WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOR EVALUATION AND RELEASED WITHIN 24 HOURS. PILOT STATED MAINTENANCE AND WEATHER WERE NOT A FACTOR IN FLIGHT OR DURING LANDING. THERE WAS NO POST IMPACT FIRE OR DAMAGE TO PROPERTY.

## 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 ERA24LA236](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA236), Jun 2, 2024: Robinson R44 (N220SW), Gilbertsville, KY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter while attempting to take off from sloping terrain.

## Other reports on N220SW (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20220109000419I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220109000419I), Jan 9, 2022: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II (N220SW), Carmi, IL, No damage. Narrative (only state facts or sequence of events that are relevant to the accident or incident) The pilot hover taxied from a parking lot to a vacant roadway…

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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