- Date
- October 21, 2007, 16:45 local (20:45 UTC)
- Place
- Cleveland, GA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N223ZRobinson R-44 II
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 20, 2007
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA Flight Standards District Office
- Case key
- 66956
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 student pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter during the landing, resulting in substantial damage to the helicopter. Contributing to the accident was the windy conditions.
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
According to the student pilot, during the last approach, at approximately two to four feet above the ground, a gust of wind blew the helicopter to the right. He reported that the main rotor impacted the ground, resulting in substantial damage. The student pilot reported no mechanical anomalies prior to the accident. Reported winds were 100 degrees at 9 knots. The student pilot estimated the winds were from 360 degrees at 12 knots.
Factual narrative
According to the student pilot, he was practicing approaches and landings on his private property. During the last approach, at approximately two to four feet above the ground, a gust of wind blew the helicopter to the right. The student pilot reported that the main rotor impacted the ground. Examination of the helicopter, conducted by an FAA Inspector revealed that the fuselage was crushed up, the rotor mast was bent forward, the front skid was separated from the fuselage, and all the rotor blades were destroyed. The student pilot reported no mechanical anomalies prior to the accident. Automated weather at Lee Gilmer Memorial Airport (GVL), Gainesville, Georgia, approximately 19 miles south of the accident site, reported winds 100 degrees at 9 knots. The student pilot estimated the winds were from 360 degrees at 12 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N223Z
- Reported as
- Robinson R-44 II
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 10415
- Airframe hours
- 400
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-540-AE, 245 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- LZU · Lawrenceville, GA
- Destination
- GA
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
- Student pilot
- Age
- 48
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 64 total · 64 in this make and model · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 100° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 77 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.20 inHg
- Observed at
- KGVL, 19 nm away