- Date
- August 4, 2016, 11:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place
- Homer, AK
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N719TFRobinson Helicopter R44 II
- Defining event
- Enroute-cruise: Birdstrike
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 5, 2016
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20160804015999A
- Case key
- 93650
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
An in-flight collision with a bird resulting in damage to a tail rotor blade, which required replacement.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot stated that while en route, about 1,000 feet above ground level (agl), a loud sound was heard in conjunction with feeling a "bump." At this point, a vibration was felt in the control pedals and a precautionary landing was executed. Upon inspection, an estimated 3-inch area of the tail rotor blade exhibited signs consistent with buckling. Witnesses on the ground reported seeing an object consistent with a bird fall from the sky after contact with the helicopter. No panels or other equipment was missing from the helicopter during an inspection following the landing. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot stated that while en route, about 1,000 feet above ground level (agl), a loud sound was heard in conjunction with feeling a "bump." At this point, a vibration was felt in the control pedals and a precautionary landing was executed. Upon inspection, an estimated 3-inch area of the tail rotor blade exhibited signs consistent with buckling. Witnesses on the ground reported seeing an object consistent with a bird fall from the sky after contact with the helicopter. No panels or other equipment was missing from the helicopter during an inspection following the landing. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N719TF
- Reported as
- Robinson Helicopter R44 II
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 10990
- Built
- 2005
- Airframe hours
- 1,003
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5, 245 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 1, 2016 · 23 hours before
- Departed
- HOM · Homer, AK
- Destination
- HOM · Homer, AK
- Airport
- HOM · Homer
- Equipment
- None
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 39
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane, Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- October 21, 2015
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 9,600 total · 85 in this make and model · 8,130 as pilot in command · 125 in the last 90 days · 50 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 60° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 4,700 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 61 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.02 inHg
- Observed at
- PAHO, 6 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 25, 2016, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 722 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N719TF · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.