# NTSB CEN10CA417: Robinson Helicopter R44 II, N721BB, Shreveport, LA, July 19, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 19, 2010, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Shreveport, LA
- Coordinates: 32.322498, -93.663887
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.3225&lon=-93.6639&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 20, 2010
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 76701
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10CA417
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76701/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76701
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA417

## Probable cause

The student pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter during takeoff, resulting in a loss of tail rotor effectiveness and a subsequent hard landing.

## 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 · Student/instructed 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.

- [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 74 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to a written statement provided by the student helicopter pilot, he was practicing "sit downs and pick ups" to a grass field. The helicopter "sat down" uneventfully and the student pilot reduced power to chat with a friend. Shortly thereafter, the student pilot added power, ensured that all engine instruments were in the green, and attempted a takeoff. The student pilot detected a tailwind and applied left pedal correction; however, the helicopter yawed to the right one full rotation before the student pilot was able to set the helicopter back down. During the hard landing the horizontal stabilizer was bent, both tail rotor blades were damaged, the tail boom was wrinkled, and the fuselage was wrinkled on the right side. An examination of the helicopter and its related systems, conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, revealed no preexisting anomalies.

## Factual narrative

According to a written statement provided by the student pilot, he was practicing "sit downs and pick ups" to a grass field. The helicopter "sat down" uneventfully and the student pilot reduced power to chat with a friend. Shortly thereafter, the student pilot added power, ensured all engine instruments were in the green, and attempted a takeoff. The student pilot detected a tailwind and applied left pedal correction; however, the helicopter yawed to the right one full rotation before the student pilot was able to set the helicopter back down. During the hard landing the horizontal stabilizer was bent, both tail rotor blades were damaged, the tail boom was wrinkled, and the fuselage was wrinkled on the right side. An examination of the helicopter and its related systems, conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, revealed no anomalies.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N721BB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N721BB), registered now, S/N 12593, built 2008 (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-AE1A5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-ae1a5) (registry code 41899, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 12593
- Airframe hours: 587
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-AE1A5 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Helieye LLC
- Registered owner: Blount Bros Construction Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, February 8, 2010
- Departed: KSHV, Shreveport, LA
- Destination: KSHV, Shreveport, LA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 20; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 44 total, 44 in this make and model, 6 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,800 ft broken
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observed at: KSHV

## 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 20100719040499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100719040499A), Jul 19, 2010: Robinson He R44 II, Shreveport, LA, Substantial damage. Student pilot had lifted off from grass field. As he lifted off, the aircraft started to weathervane into the wind and the student overcompensated with the…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 16, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76701. 5.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 5.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40334079&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.

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