# Accident 20241107016699A: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Durkee, OR, November 7, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 7, 2024, 08:37 local time
- Place: Durkee, OR
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
- Operator: K2ZA
- Location: 44.6657° N, 117.3277° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.6657&lon=-117.3277&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4361R, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4361R) (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: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,870 total, 43 in this make and model, 27 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR25LA034](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA034) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241107016699A

## Narrative

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

ON SHORT FINAL TO THE RIDGELINE WITH AN EXTERNAL LOAD THE PILOT BEGAN TO SETTLE INTO THE LZ. HE JETTISONED THE LOAD AND SPREAD THE SKIDS IN THE TREES WHERE HE THEN ROLLED OVER. HE FAILED TO CALCULATE THE PERFORMANCE NEEDED TO LAND AT THAT ALTITUDE WITH AN EXTERNAL LOAD THAT DAY. THE WEIGHT OF THE EXTERNAL LOAD ALSO WAS NOT VERIFIED BY THE PILOT SO THE TRUE WEIGHT IS UNKNOWN.

## 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 WPR25LA034](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA034), Nov 7, 2024: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (N4361R), Durkee, OR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate performance planning, which resulted in insufficient engine power to transition into an out-of-ground-effect hover at a high gross weight.

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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