- Date
- October 10, 2021, 13:20 local (21:20 UTC)
- Place
- Palmer, AK
- Injuries
- 5 uninjured
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N555ELRobinson Helicopter R44 IIFA3P4CAK37DJI AIR IIS
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20211010016261A
- Case key
- 104098
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
The unmanned aircraft pilot’s failure to yield the right of way to the helicopter.
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.
N555EL · Robinson Helicopter R44 II
DJI AIR IIS
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.
N555EL · Robinson Helicopter R44 II
Analysis
The pilot of the helicopter reported that, while conducting an air tour flight he made about a 90° right turn near a scenic area, when he heard a faint “ting” sound. He stated that there was no indication of a mechanical failure or malfunction and the helicopter continued to operate normally, so he continued the flight. After shutdown he noticed damage to one of the main rotor blades and concluded that the helicopter had collided with an uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV). The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor blade. The pilot of the unmanned aircraft system (UAS) reported that while flying his UAV near a scenic area a red helicopter suddenly appeared and collided with the UAV. 14 CFR Part 107.37 Operations near aircraft, right of way rules, states in part: (a) Each small unmanned aircraft must yield the right of way to all aircraft, airborne vehicles, and launch and reentry vehicles. Yielding the right of way means that the small unmanned aircraft must give way to the aircraft or vehicle and may not pass over, under, or ahead of it unless well clear. (b) No person may operate a small unmanned aircraft so close to another aircraft as to create a collision hazard.
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- N555EL
- Reported as
- Robinson Helicopter R44 II
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 10665
- Built
- 2005
- Airframe hours
- 3,760.4
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5, 245 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation · Part 135
- Operator
- Pollux Aviation Ltd
- Registered owner
- Pollux Aviation Ltd
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · October 6, 2021
- Destination
- Same as departure
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
- 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.
- Registration
- FA3P4CAK37
- Reported as
- DJI AIR IIS
- Category
- Unknown, unmanned
- Serial number
- 3YTSJ4T0030A8A
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 107
- Operator
- Charlie Crosby
- Registered owner
- Charlie Crosby
- Airworthiness certificate
- None
- Destination
- Same as departure
- Equipment
- None
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N555EL
- Age
- 29
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 7, 2021
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 5-point
- Flight hours
- 1,252 total · 1,020 in this make and model · 1,188 as pilot in command · 106 in the last 90 days · 21 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft 2
- Age
- 50
- Injuries
- None
- Medical
- Unknown
- Seat
- None
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 70° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 2,500 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 39 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.69 inHg
- Observed at
- PAAQ, 18 nm away
- METAR
- PAAQ 100853Z AUTO 07003KT 7SM -RA OVC025 04/03 A2969 RMK AO2 SLP059 P0005 60013 T00440033 400830011 53023 TSNO
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 21, 2022, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.0 MB 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.