# NTSB CEN24LA112: Robinson Helicopter R44 II, N4054Y, Tupelo, MS, February 7, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 6, 2024, 19:15 local (Feb 7, 2024, 01:15 UTC) - Place: Tupelo, MS - Coordinates: 34.227211, -88.632997 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2272&lon=-88.6330&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Tailstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - Jackson FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 193774 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA112 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193774/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193774 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA112 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from water during a dark night landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 39 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Terrain: water](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021020/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 97 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021020/cases.md) - [Light condition: dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 448 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Tailstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 124 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 74 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: 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 pilot reported that while attempting to land at his private helipad near a lake at night, he was unable to determine his height above the water. As he prepared to return to the departure airport, the tail rotor contacted the water. The pilot attempted to climb, but the helicopter began an un-commanded yaw to the right. The pilot reduced power and lowered the collective. The helicopter subsequently impacted the water and sustained substantial damage to the main rotor, tail boom, and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4054Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4054Y), registered now, S/N 13525 (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) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 13525 - Year built: 2013 - Airframe hours: 130 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540 245 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Maloney Leasing LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2023 - Departed: TUP, Tupelo, MS - Destination: Tupelo, MS - Equipment: Video recording device, Handheld GPS, Electronic multifunction display, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,850 total, 200 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 10° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: KTUP, 7 nm away - METAR: KTUP 070253Z 01006KT 10SM CLR 08/01 A3012 RMK AO2 SLP200 T00780011 51013 $ ## 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 20240207008509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240207008509A), Feb 7, 2024: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Planterville, MS, Destroyed. Aircraft [privacy data omitted] R44 departed Tupelo Regional Airport(ktup)and crashed in a pond located on state park road under unknown circumstances. The… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 12, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193774. 3.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 3.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16728514&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20N4054Y_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 509 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16847802&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20CEN24LA112-Rel.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.