# Accident 20240915012459A: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Basin, MT, September 15, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 15, 2024, 17:00 local time
- Place: Basin, MT
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: 5RMA
- Location: 46.3949° N, 112.2882° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.3949&lon=-112.2882&mi=10
- Aircraft: N233WT, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N233WT) (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: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 3
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 8,551 total, 3,511 in this make and model, 52 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR24LA307](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA307) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240915012459A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT STATED THE FOLLOWING:

"WE LANDED AT OUR CABIN AT 1100 IN THE MORNING, UPON DESCENDING INTO THE LANDING ZONE I COMPLETED A HOVER CHECK." "THE WEATHER CONDITIONS AT THAT TIME WERE BLUE SKY AND SUNNY NO WIND."

"AT 1700 THE TEMPRATURE WAS 60* AND WIND BLOWING TOWARDS THE CABIN(LZ)" THERE IS ONLY 1 EXIT TO THE LZ TOWARDS THE NORTH." HE THOUGHT CONDITIONS WERE SATISFACTORY FOR A TAKE-OFF. " THE PILOT AND 2 PASSENGERS BOARDED THE HELICOPTER AND TOOK OFF, UPON REACHING TREE TOP LEVEL, THE WIND CAUGHT THE TAIL ROTOR AND SPUN THE HELICOPTER AROUND TO THE RIGHT, THE LOW ROTOR LIGHT AND HORN CAME ON AND IT FELL TO THE GROUND FROM TREE TOP LEVEL." THE PILOT STATED HE DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH POWER TO MAKE A SUCCESSFUL TAKE OFF.

## 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 WPR24LA307](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA307), Sep 15, 2024: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (N233WT), Basin, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to continue performing a high-performance takeoff in a full throttle and low-rotor-rpm condition, which resulted in a loss of control and subsequent impact with terrain.

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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