# NTSB ATL04LA155: Robinson Helicopter R44 II, N442RD, Goldsboro, NC, July 28, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 28, 2004, 07:30 local (11:30 UTC) - Place: Goldsboro, NC - Coordinates: 35.368331, -78.086112 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3683&lon=-78.0861&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 24, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - Greensboro FSDO - 05 - NTSB case key (mKey): 59776 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL04LA155 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59776/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04LA155 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to obtain the proper touchdown point during landing on a helipad with an exposed edge, which resulted in an in-flight collision with terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Roll over, landing - airport facilities,helipad - exposed runway lip/edge - proper touchdown point - not obtained, pilot in command (cause) - rotor system,main rotor - blade strike - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis According to the pilot, he executed a landing on a concrete helipad that was elevated approximately six inches above the ground. He stated the helicopter touched down slightly off center, and he attempted to reposition the helicopter on the pad. The pilot stated that, during repositioning, the rear of the skids went off the rear of the pad, the helicopter tilted backward, and the tail rotor struck the ground. Examination of the accident site revealed the concrete helipad was approximately 13 feet long and 13 feet wide, and the width between the helicopter's skids was seven feet. Examination of the helicopter revealed the ninety-degree gearbox was separated, the tail rotor was separated and fragmented, and the lower portion of the vertical fin was crushed. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction with the helicopter. ## Factual narrative On July 28, 2004, about 0730 eastern daylight time, a Robinson R44 II, N442RD, registered to Carolina Kidney, Inc., and operated by the private pilot, collided with the ground during landing at a private residential helipad in Goldsboro, North Carolina. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The private pilot reported no injuries, and the helicopter sustained substantial damage. The flight departed Emerald Isle, North Carolina, about 0700 on July 28, 2004. According to the pilot, he executed a landing on a concrete helipad that was elevated approximately six inches above the ground. He stated the helicopter touched down slightly off center, and he attempted to reposition the helicopter on the pad. The pilot stated that, during repositioning, the rear of the skids went off the rear of the pad, the helicopter tilted backward, and the tail rotor struck the ground. Examination of the accident site revealed the concrete helipad was approximately 13 feet long and 13 feet wide, and the width between the helicopter's skids was seven feet. Examination of the helicopter revealed the ninety-degree gearbox was separated, the tail rotor was separated and fragmented, and the lower portion of the vertical fin was crushed. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction with the helicopter. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N442RD](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N442RD), registered now, S/N 10237, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Robinson Helicopter Co. 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: 10237 - Airframe hours: 68 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540 245 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 28, 2003, 68 hours before - Departed: PVT, Emerald Isle, NC - Destination: PVT, Goldsboro, NC - Airport: PVT, Goldsboro - private helipad ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 22, 2003; seat: right; flight hours: 1,658 total, 70 in this make and model, 1,550 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 3 knots - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft broken - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: KRDU, 40 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 20040728016569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040728016569A), Jul 28, 2004: Robsin R44RAVENII, Walnut Creek, NC, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot was executing an approach into a confined area behind his house. Pilot stated that he landed the aircraft on the edge of a concrete helipad causing… 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.