- Date
- October 18, 2020, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place
- Washington, WI
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N31136Robinson Helicopter R44 II
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-hover: Dynamic rollover
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA Milwaukee FSDO
- FAA report
- 20201018017039A
- Case key
- 102165
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 failure to maintain lateral control during a hover and improper recovery action after the helicopter contacted the ground, which resulted in a dynamic rollover sequence and an impact with terrain.
Findings · 2
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 reported that while moving over a slight incline at a hover in preparation for the takeoff, a gust of wind caused the helicopter to weathervane, inadvertently contact the ground, and initiate a rolling motion. Although the proper response was to lower the collective in this situation, the pilot’s immediate reaction was to increase the collective, which exacerbated the dynamic rollover sequence. The helicopter continued the rolling motion and came to rest on its right side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor system, the fuselage, and the tail rotor system. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N31136
- Reported as
- Robinson Helicopter R44 II
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 14388
- Built
- 2020
- Airframe hours
- 70
- Engine
- Lycoming Engines HIO-540, 245 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Midwestern Helicopter, LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Destination
- 3D2 · Ephraim, WI
- Airport
- 2P2 · Washington Island Airport
- Equipment
- Handheld GPS, Onboard weather, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 66
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- November 16, 2020
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 3-point
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 290° at 9 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 42 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.07 inHg
- Observed at
- 2P2
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 27, 2021, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 4.5 MB 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.