# NTSB CEN15LA439: Robinson Helicopter R44 II, N442CF, Alice, TX, September 14, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 14, 2015, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Alice, TX - Coordinates: 27.749761, -98.060272 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.7498&lon=-98.0603&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 11, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - NTSB case key (mKey): 92141 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN15LA439 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92141/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92141 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA439 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power during a practice power recovery autorotation 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. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: 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) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot was practicing emergency maneuvers in the helicopter. He completed two successful power recovery practice autorotations; however, during the third, the pilot noted a vibration in the rotor during the landing flare. He reported that, when he initiated the power recovery, the engine power "wasn't there." The pilot then leveled the helicopter and used the collective to soften the landing. Upon contacting the ground, the skids separated from the helicopter and the helicopter rolled onto its side. Examination of the helicopter and engine at the accident site did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation and the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On September 14, 2015, about 1530 central daylight time, a Robinson R44 II helicopter, N442CF, registered to Alice Environmental Services LP of Alice, Texas, sustained substantial damage after a hard landing while conducting a practice autorotation maneuver. The local flight was being conducted under the provisions of Federal Aviation Regulations part 91. The commercial pilot and his passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed throughout the area and a flight plan was not filed. The flight had originated from the King Ranch, Alice, Texas, about 1445. The pilot reported that he was flying the helicopter to practice emergency maneuvers. After two successful power recovery practice autorotations, he was setting up for a third. On the third attempt, he decided to maneuver the helicopter to a specific spot on the ground, flare, then terminate in a hover. He stated that everything went great until the flare. There was a vibration in the rotor, and instantly the pilot tried to power recover, but the "power wasn't there." At this point, the pilot leveled the helicopter and used remaining collective to soften the landing. Upon contacting the ground, the helicopter separated from the skids and rolled onto its side. Both the pilot and the passenger exited the helicopter uninjured. The passenger stated that the previous two practice autorotations went well. He stated that during the third autorotation, when the pilot he started to throttle up, he did not hear the sound of the engine revving up and the governor taking over. He stated that it felt as if the helicopter wobbled left and right before landing. He stated that the helicopter hit the ground level, bounced, and rolled onto its left side. The rotors made contact with the ground. He had expected to hear the sound of the engine, but he did not. The FAA inspector that examined the wreckage at the accident site reported that both skids were fractured away from the helicopter. On main rotor blade was fractured in half and the fuselage was buckled. Inspection of the airframe and engine did not reveal any mechanical anomalies with the airframe or engine, other than impact damage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N442CF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N442CF-2019-01-31), registration cancelled 2019-01-31, S/N 12200, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II (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: 12200 - Year built: 2008 - Airframe hours: 1308 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-AE1A5 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: None - Departed: Alice, TX - Destination: Alice, TX - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; injuries: none; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: unknown, unknown; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 677 total, 100 in this make and model, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: ALI ## 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 20150914015959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150914015959A), Sep 14, 2015: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Alice, TX, Substantial damage. During practice auto rotations to a hover the pilot misjudged height and contacted the ground. The vertical and horizontal loads on the aircraft seperated the… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 14, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92141. 3.8 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=40464060&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 143 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40464061&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Pilot%20Statement-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record - Passenger Statement (item 3, .PDF, 143 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40464062&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Passenger%20Statement-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record - FAA Inspector Statement (item 4, .PDF, 137 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40464063&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Master.PDF - Weather Information (item 5, .PDF, 78 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40464064&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Information-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.