# NTSB ANC21LA080: Robinson Helicopter R44 II, N779DZ, Pelican, AK, August 31, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 30, 2021, 17:30 local (Aug 31, 2021, 01:30 UTC) - Place: Pelican, AK - Coordinates: 58.0903, -136.41332 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=58.0903&lon=-136.4133&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 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): 103783 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC21LA080 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103783/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103783 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC21LA080 ## Probable cause The pilot’s loss of control while landing on a remote helipad. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 99 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 261 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was landing the helicopter on a remote helipad. After touchdown, he lowered the collective and the helicopter rolled backwards sustaining substantial damage to the main rotor system, fuselage, and tail boom. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation, and that the accident may have been prevented if he had received additional training from the company to include landing on different size helipads, and techniques to ensure the helicopter was safely on the helipad before completely lowering the collective. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N779DZ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N779DZ), registered now, S/N 10149, built 2003 (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 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 10149 - Year built: 2003 - Airframe hours: 3438 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-AE1A5 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: Helicopter Air Alaska LLC - Registered owner: Pollux Aviation Ltd - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 20, 2021 - Departed: Sitka, AK - Destination: Same as departure - Flight plan: Company VFR - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 29, 2021; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 2,772 total, 496 in this make and model, 2,696 as pilot in command, 59 in the last 90 days, 37 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 8 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft broken - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: PAEL, 5 nm away - METAR: PAEL 310051Z 27008KT 20SM BKN010 13/11 A3003 RMK SPB E27012KT SEA 0 SWELL 2 SW NOSPECI ## 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 20210830014029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210830014029A), Aug 30, 2021: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Gustavus, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot was relocating to site of previous company hard landing at remote repeater site. Landing to be made on improved 12X12 wooden platform on sloped mountain… ## Other investigations on N779DZ (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 GAA16CA009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA009), Oct 6, 2015: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (N779DZ), Ketchikan, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the engine start sequence, which resulted in the helicopter sliding on a steel deck and impacting a crane. Contributing to the accident was… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 18, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103783. 1.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13570204&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 91 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13570656&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.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.