# NTSB ERA24LA236: Robinson R44, N220SW, Gilbertsville, KY, June 2, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 2, 2024, 13:15 local (18:15 UTC) - Place: Gilbertsville, KY · private property - Coordinates: 36.93702, -88.22934 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9370&lon=-88.2293&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097) - 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): 194359 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA236 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194359/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194359 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA236 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter while attempting to take off from sloping 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) - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (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. - [Takeoff: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 261 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md) ## Analysis The helicopter pilot initially landed on his private property, but then decided he wanted to move to an area that was flatter. He described that when he raised the collective pitch control the helicopter “moved back.” Before he was able to recover, the main rotor blades contacted the upsloping terrain, resulting in a rollover and substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N220SW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N220SW), registered now, S/N 14013, built 2016 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROBINSON 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: 14013 - Year built: 2016 - Airframe hours: 202 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-AE145 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Sdw LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 22, 2024 - Departed: Carmi, IL - Destination: Same as departure - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 86; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; last flight review February 15, 2021; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 13,450 total, 550 in this make and model, 8,220 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: CEY, 18 nm away - METAR: KCEY 021815Z AUTO 23007KT 10SM FEW038 SCT060 28/20 A3001 RMK A01 ## 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 20240602009529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240602009529A), Jun 2, 2024: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Gilbertsville, KY, Substantial damage. According to the pilot's statement, he departed from his home in carmi, IL and flew to his lake house on Kentucky lake initially landed aircraft without… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 28, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194359. 2.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17229297&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA24LA236%206120%20Signed_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 2, PDF, 5 pages, 211 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17229996&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA24LA136%20Photo%20Array-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.