# NTSB DFW06CA066: Robinson R44, N744MD, Rayville, LA, February 4, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 4, 2006, 16:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Rayville, LA - Coordinates: 32.419998, -91.752777 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4200&lon=-91.7528&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 30, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: BATON ROUGE - NTSB case key (mKey): 63199 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW06CA066 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63199/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW06CA066 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain rotor RPM, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, takeoff - rotor rpm - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The 673-hour private pilot, who reported having accumulated 120 hours in the same make and model helicopter reported that while departing on his third flight of the day, into the wind, when approximately 40-feet above ground level (AGL) the helicopter suddenly "veered" to the right. As the pilot responded by applying full left anti-torque pedal, the low rotor RPM warning horn sounded. The pilot then lowered the collective control and applied aft cyclic control. With the helicopter quickly settling, the pilot pulled-up on the collective control; however, he was not able to arrest the high rate of descent. The helicopter landed hard and managed to remain in the upright position. The pilot and two passengers were uninjured. The pilot reported that at the time of the accident, the temperature was 60 degrees Fahrenheit and the winds were from 300 degrees at 10 knots. ## Factual narrative The 673-hour private pilot, who reported having accumulated 120-hours in the same make and model helicopter reported that while departing on his third flight of the day, into the wind, when approximately 40-feet above ground level (AGL) the helicopter suddenly "veered" to the right. As the pilot responded by applying full left anti-torque pedal, the low rotor RPM warning horn sounded. The pilot then lowered the collective control and applied aft cyclic control. With the helicopter quickly settling, the pilot pulled-up on the collective control; however, he was not able to arrest the high rate of descent. The helicopter landed hard and managed to remain in the upright position. The pilot and two passengers were uninjured. The pilot reported that at the time of the accident, the temperature was 60 degrees Fahrenheit and the winds were from 300 degrees at 10 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N744MD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N744MD-2019-01-07), registration cancelled 2019-01-07, S/N 0259, built 1996 (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 0-540F1 SERIE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540f1-serie) (registry code 41531, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 0259 - Airframe hours: 1230.7 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-FIB5 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 1, 2006, 5 hours before - Departed: Rayville, LA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 1, 2005; seat: right; flight hours: 673 total, 120 in this make and model, 673 as pilot in command, 33 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: MLU, 6 nm away ## 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 20060204002559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060204002559A), Feb 4, 2006: Robsin R44, Rayville, LA, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot [privacy data omitted] is a pvt. Pilot with sel, MEL, instrument airplane, and rotorcraft ratings. The pilot [privacy data omitted] suffered an… ## Other investigations on N744MD (1) 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. - [NTSB DFW05CA169](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW05CA169), Jun 19, 2005: Robinson R44 (N744MD), Rayville, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's loss of control following an encounter with loss of tail rotor effectiveness. A contributing factor was the high density altitude. 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.