# NTSB ERA24LA042: Robinson Helicopter R44 II, N789GR, Ogdensburg, NY, November 18, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 18, 2023, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Ogdensburg, NY - Coordinates: 44.68225, -75.46325 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.6823&lon=-75.4633&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 193401 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA042 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193401/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193401 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA042 ## Probable cause The loss of control of the helicopter during taxi, which resulted in rollover. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: yaw control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 149 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/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. - [Taxi: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the helicopter was practicing some maneuvers in the vicinity of his local airport. Upon completion of these maneuvers, while taxiing towards his hangar, the pilot reported that the helicopter began to yaw to the right. The pilot described that he was about a 1 ft above and that once one of the helicopter’s skids contacted the ground, he was unable to regain control and the helicopter rolled over. The helicopter’s fuselage, main rotor blades, and tailboom were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation, nor were any discovered during a postaccident examination of the helicopter by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N789GR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N789GR), registered now, S/N 10982 (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 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 10982 - Airframe hours: 1141 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2023, 103 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: OGS, Ogdensburg International Airport - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 72; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 22, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,300 total, 1,300 in this make and model, 800 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 29.86 inHg - Turbulence: Light - Observed at: OGS - METAR: METAR KOGS 181835Z AUTO VRB04G13KT 10SM CLR 04/M06 A2986 RMK AO2= ## 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 20231118020099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231118020099A), Nov 18, 2023: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Ogdensburg, NY, Substantial damage. Pilot was taxing the aircraft into position prior to departure. While in a hover 2-3 feet above surface pilot encountered a roll/yaw to the right leading to… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 19, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193401. 4.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 4.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16713369&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20LA042_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - interview summary, pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 70 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16713379&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=LA042%20pilot%20MFR-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - FAA inspector statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16714169&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20statement%20MFR-Rel.pdf - Investigative photos (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 332 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16714179&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photos%20LA042-Rel.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.