# NTSB CEN15LA285: Robinson Helicopter R44 II, N305CG, Danville, AR, June 21, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 21, 2015, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Danville, AR - Coordinates: 35.051666, -93.391387 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0517&lon=-93.3914&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 3, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 91459 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN15LA285 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91459/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91459 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA285 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 95 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot was conducting a personal flight in the helicopter. The pilot reported that, while in cruise flight, the engine lost power. The pilot's attempts to restore power were unsuccessful, so he chose to conduct a forced landing to a field, during which the helicopter landed hard and then rolled onto its side. An examination of the wreckage did not determine a reason for the loss of engine power. The recovery of the helicopter was delayed, which prevented further examination of the wreckage. ## Factual narrative On June 21, 2015, about 1600 central daylight time, a Robinson R44 II helicopter, N305CG, landed hard and rolled on its side following a loss of engine power near Danville, Arkansas. The commercial pilot was not injured and the helicopter sustained substantial damage. The helicopter was registered to T R L Properties LLC and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight. The pilot reported that he was flying solo, just sightseeing the local area when the engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot attempted to restore engine power but was unsuccessful, so he set up to land the helicopter in a nearby field. He maneuvered to avoid trees and reported that the helicopter landed on rough terrain and rolled on its side. The responding Federal Aviation Administration inspectors examined the helicopter and found substantial damage to the main rotor blades, tail boom, and fuselage. In addition, they were unable to conduct a thorough examination of the engine and were unable determine the reason for the loss of engine power. A delay in recovery of the helicopter prevented further examination of the wreckage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N305CG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N305CG-2017-01-13), registration cancelled 2017-01-13, S/N 11492, built 2006 (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: 11492 - Year built: 2006 - Airframe hours: 1140 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-AE1A5 245 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 12, 2015 - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 6,894.7 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 6,661.7 as pilot in command, 29 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KRUE, 19 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 20150621009779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150621009779A), Jun 21, 2015: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Danville, AR, Destroyed. History of flight On June 21, 2015, about 1600 (CDT) central daylight time, a 2006 Robinson helicopter, R-44 ii, N305CG, impacted terrain shortly after… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 8, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91459. 4.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442962&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.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.