# Incident 20240919013729I: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Eagle, AK, September 19, 2024

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 19, 2024, 10:00 local time
- Place: Eagle, AK
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: 1XLA
- Location: 64.7813° N, 141.1978° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Eagle, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.7813&lon=-141.1978&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1413X, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1413X) (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
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 9,000 total, 3,985 in this make and model, 221 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240919013729I

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT DEPARTED EAGLE, AK ENROUTE TO A REMOTE LANDING ZONE.  UPON ARRIVAL, THE PILOT DETERMINED THAT THE LANDING ZONE WAS UNSUITABLE TO LAND.  DURING THE HOVER/HOLD PHASE OF FLIGHT THE PILOT HEARD A "TAPPING SOUND" COMING FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT.  THE PILOT THEN MADE THE DECISION TO DEPART THE AREA AND LAND AT SLATE CREEK AIRSTRIP TO INSPECT THE AIRCRAFT.  AFTER LADING AND ACCOMPLISHING A VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT DAMAGE HAD BEEN SUSTAINED IN THE FORM OF DENTS TO THE TIP OF EACH MAIN ROTOR BLADE FROM THEM STRIKING THIN WILLOWS.  NO OTHER DAMAGE FOUND.

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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