# NTSB DFW06CA124: Robinson R-44, N144DJ, West Monroe, LA, May 10, 2006

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 10, 2006, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: West Monroe, LA
- Coordinates: 32.474998, -92.126388
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4750&lon=-92.1264&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 3, 2006
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: BTR FSDO, Baton Rouge, LA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 63671
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW06CA124
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63671/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW06CA124

## Probable cause

The pilot's loss of control while taxiing.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing
  - object - hangar/airport building

## Analysis

The 17,000-hour helicopter commercial pilot, sole occupant of the single-engine helicopter, was attempting to land on a landing cart.  The pilot stated that the landing cart is normally used to facilitate moving the helicopter in and out of the hangar.  On the day of the accident, the small tractor that is normally connected to the cart was not attached and that the cart wheels were not secured.  Upon a normal landing on the stationary cart, the cart began to move towards a hangar.  The pilot was unable to re-establish rotor RPM in time to stop the movement of the cart, and the main rotor blades impacted the hangar.  The pilot reported having accumulated a total of 700 hours in the same make and model.  The hangar was substantially damaged.

## Factual narrative

The 17,000-hour helicopter commercial pilot, sole occupant of the single-engine helicopter, was attempting to land on a landing cart.  The pilot stated that the landing cart is normally used to facilitate moving the helicopter in and out of the hangar.  On the day of the accident, the small tractor that is normally connected to the cart was not attached and that the cart wheels were not secured.  Upon a normal landing on the stationary cart, the cart began to move towards a hangar.  The pilot was unable to re-establish rotor RPM in time to stop the movement of the cart, and the main rotor blades impacted the hangar.  The pilot reported having accumulated a total of 700 hours in the same make and model.  The hangar was substantially damaged.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N144DJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N144DJ-2008-05-30), registration cancelled 2008-05-30, S/N 1183 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Robinson R-44
- Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R44](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44) (registry code 7640120) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1183
- Airframe hours: 978
- Engines: Lycoming O-540-F1B5 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91
- Registered owner: D & J Contstruction Company, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2006
- Departed: KARA, New Iberia, LA
- Destination: West Monroe, LA
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 17,000 total, 700 in this make and model, 16,970 as pilot in command, 125 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 29.64 inHg
- Observed at: KMLU

## 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 20060510007689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060510007689A), May 10, 2006: Robsin R44, West Monroe, LA, Destroyed. (-23) Pilot was returning from new iberia/acadiana regional (aka) where an annual inspection had just been completed on the incident aircraft. On arrival, 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.

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