# NTSB GAA17CA165: Robinson Helicopter R44, N804DF, Spofford, TX, February 19, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 19, 2017, 09:45 local (15:45 UTC) - Place: Spofford, TX - Coordinates: 29.166389, -100.418334 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.1664&lon=-100.4183&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi-to runway: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report June 7, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 94800 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA165 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94800/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94800 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA165 ## Probable cause The pilot's decision to hover-taxi out of the hangar and his subsequent failure to maintain clearance from the hangar. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/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) - [Object/animal/substance: residence/building](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022022): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022022/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 58 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022022/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: residence/building](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022022): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Decision related to condition; cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022022/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 58 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022022/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi-to runway: 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) - [Taxi-to runway: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); 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) - [Taxi-to runway: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097); 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 pilot of the skid-equipped helicopter reported that, the night before the accident flight, he hover-taxied into a hangar because convective activity was approaching the airport and he did not have ground-handling equipment (wheels) to move the helicopter. The following morning, he attempted to hover-taxi out of the hangar for a positioning flight, but the main rotor blade struck the top of the hangar door when the helicopter was about three-quarters of the way out of the hangar. Subsequently, the helicopter spun and rolled over onto its left side. The main rotor and tailboom sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot of a skid-equipped helicopter reported that the night before the accident flight, he hover-taxied into a hangar because convective activity was approaching the airport and he did not have ground-handling equipment (wheels) to move the helicopter. The following morning, he attempted to hover-taxi out of the hangar for a positioning flight, but the main rotor blade struck the top of the hangar door when the helicopter was about ¾ of the way out of the hangar. Subsequently, the helicopter spun and rolled over onto its left side. The main rotor and tail boom sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N804DF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N804DF-2019-11-04), registration cancelled 2019-11-04, S/N 11265, built 2006 (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: [Continental IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-540-series) (registry code 17051, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 11265 - Year built: 2006 - Airframe hours: 1953 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5 245 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 18, 2016 - Departed: 55XS, Spofford, TX - Destination: HDO, HONDO, TX - Airport: 55XS, Frontier - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 29, 2016; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 6,905 total, 1,905 in this make and model, 6,815 as pilot in command, 39 in the last 90 days, 28 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 14 knots - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,700 ft broken - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.79 inHg - Observed at: KDRT, 29 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 20170219001049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170219001049A), Feb 19, 2017: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Spofford, TX, Substantial damage. Airman hovered an R-44 helicopter inside a hangar with the intent of repositioning outside the hangar for a flight to another airfield. Aircraft rotor system… ## Other investigations on N804DF (2) 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. - [NTSB GAA15CA232](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA232), Jul 16, 2015: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (N804DF), Prairie Lea, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain rotor rpm, resulting in an uncontrolled descent and collision with trees. - [NTSB DFW08CA177](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW08CA177), Jul 5, 2008: Robinson R44 II (N804DF), Canyon Lake, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of tail rotor effectiveness. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's improper decision to operate inside the height velocity curve. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 3, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94800. 3.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40451678&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation (Pilot in Command) (item 2, .PDF, 85 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40451679&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(Pilot%20in%20Command)-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 322 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40451680&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo%20(Courtesy%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.