- Date
- May 31, 2006, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place
- Stapleton, NE
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N544LBRobinson R44
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 29, 2006
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Lincoln, NE, FSDO
- FAA report
- 20060531013939A
- Case key
- 63862
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 not maintaining clearance fron the tree during landing. A factor was the tree.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The helicopter sustained substantial damage during landing when its rotor impacted a tree and the helicopter subsequently impacted terrain. Reported winds were variable at 4 knots. The pilot stated, "Picked landing site that was not smooth enough for a gentle set down. Lifted too quickly to reposition. This maneuver resulted in chopping top out of near pine tree damaging the main rotor at about 20 feet. The helicopter settled about 30 feet away coming to rest next to a building with more damage to the main, tailcone and skid struts." The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the helicopter in reference to the flight.
Factual narrative
The helicopter sustained substantial damage during landing when its rotor impacted a tree and the helicopter subsequently impacted terrain. Reported winds were variable at 4 knots. The pilot stated, "Picked landing site that was not smooth enough for a gentle set down. Lifted too quickly to reposition. This maneuver resulted in chopping top out of near pine tree damaging the main rotor at about 20 feet. The helicopter settled about 30 feet away coming to rest next to a building with more damage to the main, tailcone and skid struts." The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the helicopter in reference to the flight.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N544LB
- Reported as
- Robinson R44
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 0880
- Airframe hours
- 754.5
- Engine
- Lycoming O-540-F1B5, 270 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Larry Bay
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 1, 2006
- Departed
- North Platte, NE
- Destination
- Stapleton, NE
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
- 64
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- May 1, 2005
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 445 total · 133 in this make and model · 330 as pilot in command · 30 in the last 90 days · 20 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Variable at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.22 inHg
- Observed at
- LBF
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.