# NTSB GAA19CA066: Robinson R44, N445KP, Lihue, HI, November 10, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 10, 2018, 13:20 local (23:20 UTC) - Place: Lihue, HI - Coordinates: 21.966943, -159.508331 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=21.9669&lon=-159.5083&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 10, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 98658 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA066 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98658/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98658 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA066 ## Probable cause The passenger’s improper decision to hold her cell phone outside the helicopter, which resulted in it departing the helicopter and striking the tail rotor. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Passenger (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: debris/dirt/foreign object](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 101 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, before the helicopter tour flight, he had briefed the passengers, but they still attempted to take cell phones onboard without cases. He then gave the passengers cases and attached them to their wrists. During the flight, while the helicopter was flying about 100 knots, the right-side passenger held her cell phone and case outside of the cabin into the airflow, which resulted in the cell phone and case without the strap exiting the helicopter and subsequently impacting the tail rotor. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail rotor. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that, before the helicopter tour flight, passengers had been briefed, but still attempted to take cell phones onboard without "a case". He then supplied the cases and attached them to the passengers wrist. During the flight, while at approximately 100 knots, the right side passenger extended her cell phone, in the case, outside of the cabin into the airflow. The cell phone and case, minus the strap, departed the helicopter and impacted the tail rotor. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail rotor. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N445KP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N445KP), registered now, S/N 11693, built 2007 (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: 11693 - Year built: 2007 - Airframe hours: 2473.6 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Operator: Hawaii Pacific Aviation Inc - Registered owner: Hawaii Pacific Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 24, 2018 - Departed: LIH, Lihue, HI - Destination: LIH, Lihue, HI - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 30, 2017; seat: front; flight hours: 2,359.1 total, 1,478 in this make and model, 2,315 as pilot in command, 313 in the last 90 days, 103 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 20 knots, gusting 27 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: PHLI, 9 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 20181110017169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20181110017169A), Nov 10, 2018: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Hanapepe, HI, Substantial damage. 11/10/2018 - Hawaii pacific inc. (dba) mauna loa helicopters operating a R44 Manufactured Robinson helicopter, tail number N445KP. The company was operating a… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 11, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98658. 1.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 581 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470956&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Picture (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 425 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470957&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Picture-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.