# NTSB ERA15CA089: Robinson Helicopter R44 II, N3183T, Barranquitas, PR, January 2, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 2, 2015, 16:40 local (20:40 UTC) - Place: Barranquitas, PR - Coordinates: 18.209722, -66.293891 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=18.2097&lon=-66.2939&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Tailstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 1, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA / FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 90559 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA15CA089 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90559/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90559 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15CA089 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter while landing which resulted in a tailrotor ground strike and collision with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Tailstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 124 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091/sequence.md) - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-hover: Loss of tail rotor effectiveness](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/242); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/242/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 100 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/242/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-hover: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 74 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 95 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis After renting the helicopter from a flight school, the pilot took off and flew to a nearby town where he picked up two passengers. He then flew them to another town to attend a party. During the flights everything was normal. Upon arrival at their destination, the pilot began to circle and asked one of the passengers to call a friend who was on the ground on his cell phone, to check the landing area to make sure it was clear for him to land. After the pilot was told it was "clear for landing," he started a smooth descent "with all of the instruments in the green arc," to the landing area which was located on a dirt road on the ridge of a mountain. The landing was smooth and the pilot touched down lightly on the skids. While the helicopter had not fully set down and was still light on the skids, he began to check the "balance of the helicopter" before setting the collective to the full down position. When he moved the cyclic forward, the helicopter pitched forward. Then when he moved the cyclic aft to its previous position, the helicopter pitched aft and he heard a "big noise" and felt a vibration. He immediately "pulled" collective and rolled the throttle to the full throttle position to get the helicopter back into the air but, the helicopter started to spin clockwise and he could not stop the rotation, even with the application of full left pedal. He then leveled the helicopter while it was still spinning and tried to make it back to the landing site but, there was not enough power to keep it airborne. The left skid then contacted the ground and the helicopter rolled over on to its left side. Postaccident examination of the helicopter by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the tail rotor assembly and tail boom were substantially damaged. ## Factual narrative After renting the helicopter from a flight school, the pilot took off and flew to a nearby town where he picked up two passengers. He then flew them to another town to attend a party. During the flights everything was normal. Upon arrival at their destination, the pilot began to circle and asked one of the passengers to call a friend who was on the ground on his cell phone, to check the landing area to make sure it was clear for him to land. After the pilot was told it was "clear for landing," he started a smooth descent "with all of the instruments in the green arc," to the landing area which was located on a dirt road on the ridge of a mountain. The landing was smooth and the pilot touched down lightly on the skids. While the helicopter had not fully set down and was still light on the skids, he began to check the "balance of the helicopter" before setting the collective to the full down position. When he moved the cyclic forward, the helicopter pitched forward. Then when he moved the cyclic aft to its previous position, the helicopter pitched aft and he heard a "big noise" and felt a vibration. He immediately "pulled" collective and rolled the throttle to the full throttle position to get the helicopter back into the air but, the helicopter started to spin clockwise and he could not stop the rotation, even with the application of full left pedal. He then leveled the helicopter while it was still spinning and tried to make it back to the landing site but, there was not enough power to keep it airborne. The left skid then contacted the ground and the helicopter rolled over on to its left side. Postaccident examination of the helicopter by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the tail rotor assembly and tail boom were substantially damaged. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3183T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3183T-2017-05-08), registration cancelled 2017-05-08, S/N 11550, built 2007 (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) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-ae1a5) (registry code 41899, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 11550 - Year built: 2007 - Airframe hours: 451.1 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-AE1A5 245 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 8, 2014, 1 hours before - Departed: NONE, Vega Baja, PR - Destination: NONE, Barranquitas, PR - Airport: NONE, Ridge Line ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 17, 2013; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 583 total, 36 in this make and model, 504 as pilot in command, 62 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 13 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: TJSJ, 24 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 20150102001609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150102001609A), Jan 2, 2015: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Barranquitas, PR, Destroyed. On January 02, 2015 at approximately 21:18Z, a Robinson helicopter R-44II (N3183T) was substantially destroyed after the pilot try to land on a private field… ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 15, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90559. 1.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 718 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422568&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot’s Statement (item 2, .PDF, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422569&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%E2%80%99s%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Satellite Image of Accident Site Location (item 3, .PDF, 102 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422570&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Satellite%20Image%20of%20Accident%20Site%20Location-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Recorders – TJSJ METARs and TAFs (item 4, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422571&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Recorders%20%E2%80%93%20TJSJ%20METARs%20and%20TAFs-Master.PDF - Photo 1 – Landing Site – Courtesy of Aircraft Operator (item 5, .PDF, 311 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422573&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20Landing%20Site%20%E2%80%93%20Courtesy%20of%20Aircraft%20Operator-Master.PDF - Photo 2 – Main Wreckage – Courtesy of FAA (item 6, .PDF, 38 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422574&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20%E2%80%93%20Main%20Wreckage%20%E2%80%93%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA-Master.PDF - Photo 3 – Close Up of Tail Boom – Courtesy of FAA (item 7, .PDF, 42 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422575&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20%E2%80%93%20Close%20Up%20of%20Tail%20Boom%20%E2%80%93%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA-Master.PDF - Photo 4 – After Recovery of Wreckage – Courtesy of FAA (item 8, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422576&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204%20%E2%80%93%20After%20Recovery%20of%20Wreckage%20%E2%80%93%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA-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.