# NTSB NYC04CA199: Robinson R44, N315SG, Wildwood, NJ, August 28, 2004

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 27, 2004, 21:50 local (Aug 28, 2004, 01:50 UTC)
- Place: Wildwood, NJ
- Coordinates: 39.008335, -74.908058
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0083&lon=-74.9081&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 3, 2004
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 59999
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC04CA199
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59999/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04CA199

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate visual lookout while conducting a nighttime landing to a dolly, which resulted in a stuck skid, and subsequent hard landing.  A factor was the nighttime conditions.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown
  - light condition - night (contributing factor)
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Hard landing, landing - aborted

## Analysis

As the helicopter was being set down onto a dolly during the hours of darkness, it felt unstable, and the pilot elected to abort the landing.  As the pilot raised the collective, the helicopter lurched forward and began to spin to the left.  The pilot lowered the collective, reduced the throttle, and the helicopter touched down hard onto the ground, spreading the landing skids.  Inspection of the dolly, and the landing skids on the helicopter, revealed that the rear portion of the left skid became stuck under metal framework, which was exposed in an open area near the center section of the dolly.

## Factual narrative

On August 27, 2004, at 2150 eastern daylight time, a Robinson R44, N315SG, was substantially damaged landing at the Cape May County Airport (WWD), Wildwood, New Jersey.  The certificated commercial pilot was not injured.  Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to the pilot, as he was setting the helicopter down onto a dolly, it felt unstable, and he elected to abort the landing.  As the pilot raised the collective, the helicopter lurched forward and began to spin to the left.  The pilot lowered the collective, reduced the throttle, and the helicopter touched down hard onto the ground, spreading the landing skids.

Inspection of the dolly, and the landing skids on the helicopter, revealed that the rear portion of the left skid became stuck under metal framework, which was exposed in an open area near the center section of the dolly.

Inspection of the helicopter revealed that the main rotor blade severed the tail cone and damaged the tail rotor system.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N315SG](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N315SG), registered now, S/N 1315, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Robinson R44
- Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R44](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44) (registry code 7640120) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1315
- Airframe hours: 526
- Engines: Lycoming O-540 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Kape Kopter, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: WWD, Wildwood, NJ
- Airport: WWD, Cape May County Airport

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; commercial; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review May 13, 2003; seat: right; flight hours: 877 total, 700 in this make and model, 750 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night
- Wind: 190° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observed at: WWD

## 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 20040827026889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040827026889A), Aug 27, 2004: Robsin R44, Wildwood, NJ, Substantial damage. (-23) During landing operation the helicopter skid got caught under part of the dolly it was landing on. The pilot attempted to establish control but the…

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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