- Date
- February 24, 2018, 14:35 local (23:35 UTC)
- Place
- Talkeetna, AK
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N7519GRobinson Helicopter R44
- Defining event
- Landing: Dynamic rollover
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 14, 2018
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20180224003079A
- Case key
- 96811
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 selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in a dynamic rollover.
Findings · 4
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
The helicopter pilot reported that, during the off-airport landing, he believed he was landing on packed snow. He added that, during touchdown, the helicopter began to tip to the right, and he attempted to recover to no avail. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the windshield and horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The helicopter pilot reported that, during the off-airport landing, he believed he was landing on packed snow. He added that, during touchdown the helicopter began to tip to the right and he attempted to recover to no avail. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the windshield and horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7519G
- Reported as
- Robinson Helicopter R44 (UNDESIGNAT)
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 1363
- Built
- 2004
- Airframe hours
- 2,600
- Engine
- Lycoming O-540-F1, 225 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · September 26, 2017
- Departed
- TKA · Talkeetna, AK
- Destination
- Talkeetna, AK
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
- Equipment
- None
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
- 72
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Airline transport, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Waiver time limited special
- Last flight review
- July 28, 2015
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 11,500 total · 2,100 in this make and model · 10,500 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 2,800 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 18 °F, dew point 14 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.61 inHg
- Observed at
- PATK, 15 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 11, 2018, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 526 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.