# NTSB LAX08CA057: Robinson R44 II, N44NV, Bullhead City, AZ, February 3, 2008

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: February 2, 2008, 19:00 local (Feb 3, 2008, 02:00 UTC)
- Place: Bullhead City, AZ
- Coordinates: 35.157222, -114.559448
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1572&lon=-114.5594&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 31, 2008
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 67464
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX08CA057
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67464/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08CA057

## Probable cause

The pilot's misjudged landing flare, inadequate bounced landing recovery, and failure to maintain directional control during a bounced landing that resulted in the tail rotor blades colliding with a hangar. Contributing to the accident was the burned out landing lights.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Lighting system: exterior lighting](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023340): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023340/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023340/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)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: residence/building](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022022): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; 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)
- [Action: incomplete action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041040): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041040/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 105 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: 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)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: 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)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that during the night flight, and prior to landing, he discovered that both landing lights were burned out.  During the landing, the nose of the right skid contacted the ground and the helicopter bounced back into the air and rotated to the right resulting in the tail rotor striking a hangar.  The helicopter rotated about 360 degrees before impacting the ground.  The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail rotor gearbox attachment point.  The pilot reported no other abnormalities with the helicopter prior to the accident.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that during the night flight, and prior to landing, he discovered that both landing lights were burned out.  During the landing, the nose of the right skid contacted the ground and the helicopter bounced back into the air and rotated to the right resulting in the tail rotor striking a hangar.  The helicopter rotated about 360 degrees before impacting the ground.  The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail rotor gearbox attachment point.  The pilot reported no other abnormalities with the helicopter prior to the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N44NV](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N44NV), registered now, S/N 11800 (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: 11800
- Airframe hours: 56
- Engines: Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Laughlin Aviation, LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2007, 56 hours before
- Departed: HND, Henderson, NV
- Destination: IFP, BULLHEAD CITY, AZ
- Airport: IFP, Laughlin/Bullhead Internationa

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 76; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 8,041 total, 262 in this make and model, 7,815 as pilot in command, 31 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night
- Wind: 240° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 32 °F
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observed at: EED, 24 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 20080202010379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080202010379A), Feb 2, 2008: Robsin R44RAVENII, Bullhead City, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) Written statement provided by pilot [privacy data omitted] on 02/14/08 to this office. In that statement the pilot [privacy data omitted] states: "I…

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.

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