# NTSB GAA18CA408: Robinson R44, N144DJ, Rulo, NE, July 10, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 9, 2018, 20:20 local (Jul 10, 2018, 01:20 UTC) - Place: Rulo, NE - Coordinates: 40.02, -95.43 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0200&lon=-95.4300&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 5, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 97724 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA408 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97724/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97724 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA408 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper collective application, which resulted in low rotor rpm during the takeoff climb and a subsequent ground collision. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s self-induced pressure to complete the operation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: prop/rotor parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052/cases.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 182 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052/cases.md) - [Aircraft capability: climb capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 183 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Personality/attitude: motivation/respond to pressure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021025): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021025/cases.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 53 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 346 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 43 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Post-impact: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 261 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the helicopter pilot, he was performing a night agricultural flight. During takeoff from a platform located on top of the tender, his collective application was too aggressive, and during the ascent, the engine sputtered. The engine rpm and main rotor rpm decreased, and he tried to regain the rpm by lowering the collective. The helicopter was moving forward and descending, so he applied aft cyclic to arrest the forward movement, and he attempted to land. The left skid touched down in the soft dirt, and the pilot applied aft cyclic to prevent a nose-over, but the main rotor blades struck the tailboom. The helicopter rolled forward, and its nose spun left before the helicopter came to rest on its left side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage the fuselage, tail rotor drive system, and skid tubes. The pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented if he had not been in a hurry to complete the operation and that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative According to the helicopter pilot, he was performing a night agricultural flight. During takeoff from a platform located on top of the tender, his collective application was too aggressive, and during the ascent the engine sputtered. The engine RPM and main rotor RPM decreased, and he tried to regain the RPMs by lowering the collective. The helicopter was moving forward and descending, so he applied aft cyclic to arrest the forward movement, and he attempted to land. The left skid touched down in the soft dirt and the pilot applied aft cyclic to prevent a nose over, but the main rotor blades struck the tailboom. The helicopter rolled forward, and the nose of the helicopter spun to the left before the helicopter came to rest on its left side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage the fuselage, tail rotor drive system and skid tubes. Additionally, the pilot asserted that the accident could have been prevented if he would not have been in a hurry to complete the operation. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N144DJ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N144DJ), registered now, S/N 2467, built 2017 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Robinson R44 (Undesignat) - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R44](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44) (registry code 7640120) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-540-F1B5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-540-f1b5) (registry code 42353, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2467 - Year built: 2017 - Airframe hours: 767 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-F1B5 245 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Cedar Ridge Aviation, doing business as Cedar Ridge Aviation - Registered owner: Dustin Johnson Aviation LLC. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 5, 2018 - Departed: Rulo, NE - Destination: Rulo, NE - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 31, 2018; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 7,500 total, 1,800 in this make and model, 7,380 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 12 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 160° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: KFNB, 8 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 20180709009429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180709009429A), Jul 9, 2018: Robinson Helicopter R44, Rulo, NE, Substantial damage. Pilot had been conducting aerial spraying for most of the day. As temperature and humidity increased throughout the day, power margin decreased. As the pilot… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 14, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97724. 3.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470382&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - AS-INT-018 IHST Checklist (item 2, .PDF, 81 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470383&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=AS-INT-018%20IHST%20Checklist-Master.PDF - Photo (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 164 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470384&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-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.