# NTSB CEN13LA155: Robinson Helicopter R44 II, N276RC, Tulsa, OK, February 6, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 6, 2013, 17:50 local (23:50 UTC) - Place: Tulsa, OK - Coordinates: 36.198333, -95.888053 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1983&lon=-95.8881&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Prior to flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/100) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Prior to flight: Aircraft servicing event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/020) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 11, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 86185 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13LA155 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86185/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86185 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA155 ## Probable cause The line technician’s failure to remove the refueling mat from the helicopter fuselage following servicing, which resulted in the mat striking the tail rotor in flight, and the pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Tail rotor: tail rotor blade](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046410): Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor · Damaged/degraded (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 31 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046410/cases.md) - [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Ground crew (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Aircraft servicing event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/020) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 70 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/020/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330); cases with it: [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Autorotation: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis After fuel servicing, the line technician did not remove the rubber fueling mat from the fuselage. The pilot did not observe the mat on the fuselage before taking off, most likely due to his inadequate preflight inspection of the helicopter. While climbing through 150 feet above ground level, the fueling mat departed the fuselage and impacted the tail rotor, which resulted in the fracture of both tail rotor blades and a loss of tail rotor control. The pilot executed an autorotation landing and landed without further incident. ## Factual narrative On February 6, 2013, about 1750 central standard time, a Robinson R44 II helicopter, N276RC, executed an autorotation landing after a fueling mat struck the tail rotor at the Tulsa International Airport (TUL), Tulsa, Oklahoma. The commercial pilot was not injured. The tail rotor blades received substantial damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by Crumpton Aviation LLC under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91as a business flight. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight and no flight plan was filed. The flight was originating at the time of the accident and was destined for Richard Lloyd Jones Jr. Airport (KRVS), Tulsa, Oklahoma. After fuel servicing by fixed base operator personnel, the pilot lifted off from the ramp area and began a turn to the southwest. Climbing through 150 feet above ground level, the pilot reported a loud bang followed by loss of tail rotor effectiveness. The pilot executed an autorotation landing on a concrete ramp at the airport. During examination of the accident site, two fractured tail rotor blades and a damaged fueling mat were found on a path between the initial liftoff point of the helicopter and its landing location. Examination of the tail rotor blades indicated that damage was consistent with contact by the fueling mat. ## Aircraft - Registration: N276RC (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 11975 - Airframe hours: 2036 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-AE1A5 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Crumpton Aviation LLC - Registered owner: Crumpton Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 14, 2013 - Departed: KTUL, Tulsa, OK - Destination: KRVS, Tulsa, OK - Airport: KTUL, Tulsa International Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 3, 2012; seat: right; flight hours: 1,255 total, 966 in this make and model, 1,118 as pilot in command, 243 in the last 90 days, 46 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 160° at 15 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: KTUL ## 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 20130206002119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130206002119A), Feb 6, 2013: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Tulsa, OK, Substantial damage. Pilot entered a hover after being cleared for takeoff from FBO at tul. Tower instructed him to turn to a headig of 210 degrees for departure. At this time he… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 13, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86185. 5.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393124&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA description of ramp area (item 2, .PDF, 310 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393125&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20description%20of%20ramp%20area-Master.PDF - Statement of refuelers (item 3, .PDF, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393126&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20refuelers-Redacted.PDF - Lab examination of tail rotor blades and refueling mat (item 4, .PDF, 374 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393193&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Lab%20examination%20of%20tail%20rotor%20blades%20and%20refueling%20mat-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. --- 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.