# NTSB CHI05CA066: Robinson R44, N7091C, Minneapolis, MN, February 5, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 5, 2005, 17:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Minneapolis, MN - Coordinates: 45.145, -93.211387 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.1450&lon=-93.2114&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 28, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Minneapolis, MN FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 60960 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI05CA066 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60960/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI05CA066 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions and his failure to maintain control of the helicopter while maneuvering to center the helicopter on a cart. A factor associated with the accident was the wind gusts. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Roll over, maneuvering ## Analysis The helicopter rolled over following a loss of control while maneuvering. The pilot reported he was landing on a cart when the accident occurred. He reported the helicopter touched down, and he was attempting to raise the helicopter to center it on the cart, when a gust of wind caused the helicopter to roll to the right. The right skid contacted the ground and the helicopter came to rest on its right side. The pilot stated the cart is approximately 6 to 8 inches high. He also stated that when the helicopter is centered on the cart there is approximately 1 foot of clearance between the outside of each skid and the edge of the cart. The local winds reported at ANE at the time of the accident were from 160 degrees at 16 knots gusting to 23 knots. The airport manager reported that helicopters are prohibited from hover taxiing between the hangars on the airport. The pilot reported they land the helicopter on a cart which they then tow into the hangar using an all terrain type vehicle. ## Factual narrative On February 5, 2005, at 1700 central standard time, a Robinson R44 helicopter, N7091C, collided with the terrain following a loss of control while maneuvering at the Anoka County-Blaine Airport (ANE), Minneapolis, Minnesota. The commercial rated pilot and two passengers were not injured. The helicopter was substantially damaged. The 14 CFR Part 91 business flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions on a visual meteorological rules flight plan. The flight originated from Menomonie, Wisconsin, at 1600. The pilot reported he was landing on a cart when the accident occurred. He reported the helicopter touched down, and he was attempting to raise the helicopter to center it on the cart, when a gust of wind caused the helicopter to roll to the right. The right skid contacted the ground and the helicopter came to rest on its right side. The airport manager at ANE reported that the helicopters are prohibited from hover taxiing between the hangars on the airport. The pilot reported they land the helicopter on a cart which they then tow into the hangar using an all terrain type vehicle. The pilot stated the cart is approximately 6 to 8 inches high. He also stated that when the helicopter is centered on the cart there is approximately 1 foot of clearance between the outside of each skid and the edge of the cart. The local winds reported at ANE at the time of the accident were from 160 degrees at 16 knots gusting to 23 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7091C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7091C-2013-04-08), registration cancelled 2013-04-08, S/N 0617, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Robinson R44 - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R44](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44) (registry code 7640120) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 0617 - Engines: Lycoming O-540 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: H & K Builders, Inc. - Registered owner: H & K Builders, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: W11, Menomonie, WI - Destination: ANE, Anoka, MN - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 1,827 total, 912 in this make and model, 45 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 16 knots, gusting 23 - Visibility: 10 statute miles ## 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 20050205001449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050205001449A), Feb 5, 2005: Robsin R44, Minneapolis, MN, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft returned to ane following a VFR flight to menomonie, WI (W11). Pilot had landed the helicopter on a trailer, but he had determined that the… 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.