- Date
- November 5, 2009, 13:10 local (18:10 UTC)
- Place
- Morovis, PR
- Injuries
- 1 minor, 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N440MRobinson Helicopter R44
- Defining event
- Landing: Roll over
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 6, 2010
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20091105051049A
- Case key
- 75018
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’s delayed attempt to go around.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the pilot flew the helicopter to one location (about 100 feet above sea level) where three adult passengers boarded, then flew to a landing pad at an elevation of 1,391 feet above sea level. According to the pilot, after one recognition pass, she began a "confined pinnacle approach." While on short final, the pilot decided to go around and added power, but the helicopter "did not respond accordingly." The low rotor rpm horn sounded and the low rotor rpm light illuminated. The pilot noted "no airspeed, no altitude," and continued to an "emergency landing." Upon touchdown, with the right skid partially off the landing pad, the helicopter rolled over to the left, resulting in damage to the rotor system and tail boom. The pilot also stated that the winds were calm and that the outside air temperature gauge indicated 24 degrees Centigrade. She further noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the helicopter.
Factual narrative
According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the pilot flew the helicopter to one location (about 100 feet above sea level) where three adult passengers boarded, then flew to a landing pad at an elevation of 1,391 feet above sea level. According to the pilot, after one recognition pass, she began a "confined pinnacle approach." While on short final, the pilot decided to go around and added power, but the helicopter "did not respond accordingly." The low rotor rpm horn sounded and the low rotor rpm light illuminated. The pilot noted "no airspeed, no altitude," and continued to an "emergency landing." Upon touchdown, with the right skid partially off the landing pad, the helicopter rolled over to the left, resulting in damage to the rotor system and tail boom. The pilot also stated that the winds were calm and that the outside air temperature gauge indicated 24 degrees Centigrade. She further noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the helicopter.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N440M
- Reported as
- Robinson Helicopter R44
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 0468
- Airframe hours
- 916
- Engine
- Lycoming 0-540 SERIES, 250 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Universal Aviation Vertical Group
- Registered owner
- Universal Aviation Vertical Group
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 25, 2009
- Departed
- NONE · Alta Vega, PR
- Destination
- NONE · Morovis, PR
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
- 38
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- August 30, 2009
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 5,000 total · 400 in this make and model · 75 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 29, 2009, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 419 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.