# NTSB ANC12CA018: Robinson Helicopter R44 II, N4510T, Beluga, AK, January 21, 2012

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: January 21, 2012, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Beluga, AK
- Coordinates: 61.644721, -150.101943
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.6447&lon=-150.1019&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Standing-engine(s) operating: Aircraft loading event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/010)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 15, 2012
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA Anchorage FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 82734
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC12CA018
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82734/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82734
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12CA018

## Probable cause

Ground personnel's movement of cargo in windy conditions, which allowed a previously secured cargo sack to blow into the main rotor blades.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Wind: high wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 112 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055/cases.md)
- [Main rotor system: main rotor blade system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046210): Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor · Damaged/degraded; cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046210/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 60 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046210/cases.md)
- [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02050000): Personnel issues › Miscellaneous · Ground crew (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02050000/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02050000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Standing-engine(s) operating: Aircraft loading event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/010) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/010/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 84 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/010/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot landed the helicopter at an off-airport site in windy conditions. While he was performing the engine cool-down portion of the checklist, a worker at the site picked up a storage container that was weighing down an empty cargo sack. When the weight was removed, the sack was picked up by the wind, and it contacted the helicopter's main rotor system, resulting in substantial damage to the main rotor blades.

## Factual narrative

The pilot landed the helicopter at an off-airport site in windy conditions. While he was performing the engine cool-down portion of the checklist, a worker at the site picked up a storage container that was weighing down an empty cargo sack. When the weight was removed, the sack was picked up by the wind, and it contacted the helicopter's main rotor system, resulting in substantial damage to the main rotor blades.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4510T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4510T), registered now, S/N 13085, built 2011 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II
- Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii) (registry code 7640122) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-ae1a5) (registry code 41899, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 13085
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-AE1A5 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: External load, Part 133
- Operator: Ace Flyers Inc DBA, doing business as Jayhawk Air
- Registered owner: Ace Flyers Inc DBA
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: Beluga, AK
- Destination: Beluga, AK
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 6, 2011; seat: front; flight hours: 2,434 total, 350 in this make and model, 225 in the last 90 days, 109 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 30 knots, gusting 40
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Temperature: 14 °F

## 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 20120121001699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120121001699A), Jan 21, 2012: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. Helicopter arrived at a landing zone planning to conduct part 133 external load cargo operations. The pilot landed the helicopter and commenced shutdown…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 6, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82734. 694 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 694 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365679&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.

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