- Date
- March 1, 2011, 10:40 local (17:40 UTC)
- Place
- Glenwood Springs, CO
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N74816Robinson Helicopter R44 II
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Dynamic rollover
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 21, 2011
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20110301002369A
- Case key
- 78499
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 pilot’s improper takeoff procedure, which resulted in a dynamic rollover when the left skid contacted the ground.
Findings · 1
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.
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.
Analysis
The pilot refueled his helicopter and was performing a takeoff from an area near the airport’s fuel pumps. As the helicopter began to lift, the pilot allowed the helicopter’s tail to remain in a low attitude. As a result, the aft end of the left skid contacted the ground and the helicopter experienced a dynamic rollover. The helicopter came to rest on its left side, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and tail boom. The pilot reported that there were no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot refueled his helicopter and was performing a takeoff from an area near the airport’s fuel pumps. As the helicopter began to lift, the pilot allowed the helicopter’s tail to remain in a low attitude. As a result, the aft end of the left skid contacted the ground and the helicopter experienced a dynamic rollover. The helicopter came to rest on its left side and the pilot was able to exit unassisted. The helicopter’s fuselage and tail boom sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N74816
- Reported as
- Robinson Helicopter R44 II
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 10982
- Airframe hours
- 486
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-540, 205 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- 244 Charlie Delta LLC
- Registered owner
- 244 Charlie Delta LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · February 11, 2011
- Departed
- GWS · Gleenwood Springs, CO
- Destination
- Carbondale, CO
- Airport
- GWS · Glenwood Springs Municipal
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 51
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- February 15, 2011
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 134 total · 18 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 41 °F
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 3, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 506 KB 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.