- Date
- August 20, 2019, 19:30 local (Aug 21, 2019, 02:30 UTC)
- Place
- Cypress Island, WA
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N7186PRobinson R44
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 27, 2020
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- FAA report
- 20190820016829A
- Case key
- 100133
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 failure to maintain adequate clearance from a tree while maneuvering at a low altitude.
Findings · 2
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 pilot reported that he began a right orbit off the shore of an island about 20 ft above the water. During the maneuver, the helicopter drifted and struck a tree leaning over the water. The helicopter subsequently lost altitude, impacted the water, and came to rest on its right side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor blades and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that he began a right orbit off the shore of an island, about 20 ft above the water. During the maneuver, the helicopter drifted and struck a tree leaning over the water. The helicopter subsequently lost altitude and came to rest on its right side after it impacted the water. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor blades and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact malfunction or failures that would have precluded normal operations. The pilot did not submit the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report Form 6120.1.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7186P
- Reported as
- Robinson R44 (Undesignat)
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 0611
- Built
- 1999
- Engine
- Lycoming O-540-F1B5, 235 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Operator
- Peregrine Air LLC
- Registered owner
- Peregrine Air LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Equipment
- Unknown
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
- 73
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Multi-engine land, Single-engine land, Multi-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane, Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 1, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 11,000 total · 1,500 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 160° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 68 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.86 inHg
- Observed at
- KORS, 10 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 20, 2020, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 201 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.