# NTSB CEN16LA006: Robinson Helicopter R44, N442RP, Parkston, SD, October 5, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 5, 2015, 10:10 local (15:10 UTC) - Place: Parkston, SD - Coordinates: 43.383335, -97.981666 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.3833&lon=-97.9817&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious, 2 minor - Status: Completed, report November 15, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 92131 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN16LA006 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92131/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92131 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA006 ## Probable cause The pilot’s decision to take off from a confined area and his failure to adequately compensate for wind conditions during the takeoff, which resulted in collision with obstacles. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000/cases.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 137 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000/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, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot landed the helicopter adjacent to a building and intended to shut down the engine to install the spray system, which was located on a trailer parked next to the helicopter; however, he was then asked to give a ride to 3 company employees. As the helicopter lifted off with the passengers onboard, the pilot reported that a tailwind pushed the helicopter forward and into the trailer and the adjacent building, and that he "did not have time to recover." The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions of the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation and stated that a "less confined" takeoff location "would have been preferred." Given the confined location of the takeoff, it is likely that the pilot did not have adequate space to compensate for the tailwind condition experienced during the takeoff, which resulted in collision with obstacles. ## Factual narrative On October 5, 2015, about 0910 mountain daylight time, a Robinson R44 helicopter, N442RP, impacted a building during takeoff from a private landing area near Parkston, South Dakota. The commercial-rated pilot and one passenger received serious injuries. The two additional passengers were not injured, and the helicopter sustained substantial damage. The helicopter was registered to Woodley Aerial Leasing LLC and operated by Woodley Aerial Spraying Inc., under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and an instrument flight plan was not filed. The pilot stated that when he landed he left some distance between the helicopter and the adjacent building, with the tailboom pointed away from the building. The load truck with trailer was then parked between the helicopter and the building. He expected to "shut down the helicopter so the spray system could be installed." However, before he helicopter was shutdown, the owner asked the pilot to give 3 passengers a ride. The passengers boarded the helicopter and the pilot proceeded to depart. The pilot reported that as soon as the helicopter lifted, a tailwind gust pushed the helicopter forward. He added that it happened so fast, he did not have time to recover and the helicopter impacted the load trailer and side of the adjacent building. The closest weather reporting station located at the Mitchell Municipal Airport, South Dakota, about 24 miles north of the accident site, recorded wind from 170 degrees at 7 kts. The pilot reported there were no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the helicopter. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N442RP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N442RP-2018-10-23), registration cancelled 2018-10-23, S/N 1277, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44 (UNDESIGNAT) - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R44](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44) (registry code 7640120) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540F1 SERIE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540f1-serie) (registry code 41531, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 1277 - Year built: 2002 - Airframe hours: 2078.3 - Engines: LYCOMING O-540F1 SERIE 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 6, 2015 - Departed: Parkston, SD - Destination: Parkston, SD ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: serious; flight instructor, commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 19, 2015; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,350 total, 115 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: KMHE, 24 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 20151005016879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20151005016879A), Oct 5, 2015: Robinson Helicopter R44, Parkston, SD, Substantial damage. On October 5th at about 0900 CDT, a Robinson R-44, N442RP crashed near Parkston, SD. Two persons, including the pilot received serious injuries and two other… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 11, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92131. 2.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466542&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 2, .PDF, 119 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466543&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-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.