# NTSB ERA09CA337: Robinson Helicopter R44 II, N47GT, Meredith, NH, May 25, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 25, 2009, 11:47 local (15:47 UTC) - Place: Meredith, NH - Coordinates: 43.573055, -71.417778 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5731&lon=-71.4178&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74018 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09CA337 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74018/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74018 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA337 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain control during landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 99 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 161 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that with three passengers, he departed from a dock on his property to conduct a local flight. After 1 hour, he returned to the same dock for landing. The approach was normal, but when the pilot came to a 2- to 3-foot hover above the dock the helicopter “dropped violently onto its skids.” The helicopter then began sliding backward with the tail down towards the water. He applied power in an attempt to bring the helicopter to a hover, but it rolled onto its left side and slid rearward into the water. The rotor, airframe, transmission, engine, and avionics incurred damage. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical abnormalities present with the helicopter prior to the flight, or the accident sequence. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that with three passengers, he departed from a dock on his property to conduct a local flight. After 1 hour, he returned to the same dock for landing. The approach was normal, but when the pilot came to a 2- to 3-foot hover above the dock the helicopter “dropped violently onto its skids.” The helicopter then began sliding backward with the tail down towards the water. He applied power in an attempt to bring the helicopter to a hover, but then it rolled onto its left side and slid rearward into the water. The rotor, airframe, transmission, engine, and avionics incurred damage. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical abnormalities present with the helicopter prior to the flight, and did not report after the accident experiencing any prior to the initiation of the accident sequence. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N47GT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N47GT-2012-09-25), registration cancelled 2012-09-25, S/N 10853 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii) (registry code 7640122) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 10853 - Airframe hours: 439 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-F1B5 205 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Glenn L. Tonnesen - Registered owner: Tonnesen Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 21, 2009, 3 hours before - Departed: Meredith, NH - Destination: Meredith, NH - Airport: KLCI, Laconia Municipal Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; commercial; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 10, 2008; seat: right; flight hours: 312 total, 93 in this make and model, 221 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 13 knots, gusting 26 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: KLCI, 6 nm away ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 17, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74018. 416 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 388 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316383&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Reports from Federal Agencies: FAA Inspector's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 28 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316385&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Federal%20Agencies%3A%20FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF 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.