# NTSB ANC20CA023: Robinson R44, N716JL, Talkeetna, AK, February 21, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 20, 2020, 16:10 local (Feb 21, 2020, 01:10 UTC) - Place: Talkeetna, AK - Coordinates: 63.048889, -150.77055 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=63.0489&lon=-150.7705&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 100974 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC20CA023 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100974/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100974 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20CA023 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from snow covered terrain during an en route descent in flat light conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 39 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) - [Light condition: flat light](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036025): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036025/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 42 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036025/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: snow/slush/ice covered surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 219 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md) - [Ceiling/visibility/precip: low visibility](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035015/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 175 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-descent: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Enroute-descent: Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402/sequence.md) - [Enroute-descent: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was conducting a passenger flight from a high elevation mountain heliport to the company's base airport. While the passengers were loading at the heliport, the weather deteriorated to 2 statute miles visibility in light snow and the ceiling was about 1000 ft. After the takeoff, the pilot was descending over a glacier and the helicopter unexpectedly skipped on the snow-covered surface of the glacier and it settled into deep snow. The helicopter subsequently rolled onto the right side and the main rotor blades, main rotor transmission and tail boom sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N716JL](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N716JL), registered now, S/N 10463 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Robinson 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 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 10463 - Year built: 2004 - Airframe hours: 2728 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540 AE1A5 245 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Talkeetna Air Taxi Inc - Registered owner: Talkeetna Air Taxi Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 5, 2020 - Departed: 09AA, Talkeetna, AK - Destination: PATK, Talkeetna, AK - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: 09AA, Sheldon Chalet ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 14,650 total, 475 in this make and model, 14,500 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft broken - Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 28.81 inHg - Observed at: PAEC, 27 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 20200220000359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200220000359A), Feb 20, 2020: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Talkeetna, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot statement: At approximately 3:20 pm on February 20th, pilot in command [privacy data omitted] departed thetalkeetna airport (patk) in Robinson 44… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 10, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100974. 4.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486830&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photographs (item 2, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486831&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photographs-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.