# NTSB ANC10LA053: Robinson Helicopter R44, N333DV, Unalaska, AK, June 20, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 19, 2010, 17:00 local (Jun 20, 2010, 01:00 UTC) - Place: Unalaska, AK - Coordinates: 53.45639, -167.872222 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=53.4564&lon=-167.8722&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-hover: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report March 16, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA FSDO-03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 76386 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC10LA053 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76386/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76386 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC10LA053 ## Probable cause The pilot's inappropriate low altitude maneuvering, which resulted in a collision with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-hover: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-hover: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 43 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-hover: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis A ranch employee reported that he and another employee were onboard the helicopter with the pilot when they spotted a bull that had become entangled in plastic wrapping material. Both employees egressed the helicopter in an effort to try to cut the plastic off the animal. The pilot maneuvered the helicopter in an attempt to herd the bull toward them with no success. The pilot then attempted to land the helicopter on a portion of the plastic that was trailing behind the bull, which would aid the employees in being able to approach it. After that was unsuccessful, the pilot tried to knock the bull down with the helicopter. The pilot eventually managed to maneuver the helicopter's right skid under the plastic and began to elevate the bull. As the helicopter moved forward, it moved to the right and impacted the ground, killing the pilot and the bull. ## Factual narrative On June 19, 2010, about 1700 Alaska daylight time, a Robinson R44 helicopter, N333DV, sustained substantial damage when it collided with terrain about 62 miles southwest of Unalaska, Alaska. The helicopter was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR)other work use flight, in conjunction with a cattle ranch, under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The solo commercial pilot died in the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and company flight following procedures were in effect. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge on June 19, an official for the cattle ranch said another pilot at the ranch told her the helicopter pilot had just dropped off two employees for a cattle count, and upon departure, the helicopter had "caught a skid," and impacted terrain. The employees attempted to render aid to the accident pilot, but she was told the pilot died. The employees reported they did not think there were any problems with the helicopter prior to the accident. In a written statement provided to the NTSB IIC by one of the ranch employees who witnessed the accident, the witness reported that he and another employee were in the helicopter with the pilot, surveying the ranch property, when they spotted a bull that had become entangled in plastic wrapping material. He said he and the other employee got out of the helicopter, and the pilot attempted to herd the bull toward them so they could cut the plastic off. The witness said the bull would not cooperate, and the pilot tried to land on the trailing plastic so they could tackle the bull. The witness also reported that the pilot tried to knock the bull down with the helicopter. He said eventually the pilot got the helicopter's right landing gear skid under the plastic and tried to pick the bull up, but the plastic broke. He said the pilot hooked the skid under the plastic again, but this time the plastic did not break, and as the helicopter lifted the bull off the ground the helicopter moved forward and to the right, and impacted the ground. Due to the remote location, the helicopter was not examined by the NTSB. A postmortem examination of the pilot was conducted under the authority of the Alaska State Medical Examiner, 4500 South Boniface Parkway, Anchorage, Alaska, on June 25, 2010. The examination revealed the cause of death for the pilot was attributed to multiple blunt force injuries. The FAA's Civil Aeromedical Institute (CAMI) conducted a toxicological examination on August 12, 2010, which detected amounts of Ethanol, Methanol, and N-Propanol. The Ethanol in this case was from sources other than consumption. Ibuprofen was detected in the urine. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N333DV](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N333DV-2011-01-04), registration cancelled 2011-01-04, S/N 1927, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44 - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R44](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44) (registry code 7640120) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-540-F1B5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-540-f1b5) (registry code 42353, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 1927 - Airframe hours: 555 - Engines: LYCOMING O-540-F1B5 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Operator: Bering Pacific Ranches Ltd - Registered owner: Bering Pacific Ranches Ltd - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 22, 2010 - Departed: Unalaska, AK - Destination: Unalaska, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: fatal; commercial; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 17, 2010; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,000 total, 400 in this make and model, 1,000 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 17 knots, gusting 21 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.86 inHg - Observed at: PADU, 61 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20100619037769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100619037769A), Jun 19, 2010: Robinson He R44, Unalaska, AK, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. The pilot attempted to free an animal (bull), that was tangled in plastic (polypropylene) strapping, with the helicopter's skid landing gear. The bull , stuck… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 28, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76386. 1.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 630 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338403&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statements (item 2, .PDF, 161 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338404&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - Toxicological Report (item 3, .PDF, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338405&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Toxicological%20Report-Master.PDF - Annotated Photo 1 (item 4, .PDF, 476 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338406&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Annotated%20Photo%201-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.