- Date
- December 18, 2005, 12:20 local (17:20 UTC)
- Place
- Linden, NJ
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N44EKRobinson R44
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 25, 2007
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20051218033589A
- Case key
- 62866
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
A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The Robinson R-44 helicopter experienced a loss of engine power on the initial climb after takeoff, during an instructional flight. The certified flight instructor (CFI) conducted an autorotation to a nearby construction site; however, the helicopter's skids dug into the muddy ground, and the main rotor blades contacted the tail boom. Examination of the helicopter did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions. The CFI reported 1,920 hours of total flight experience, which included about 300 hours in the accident helicopter make and model.
Factual narrative
On December 18, 2005, about 1220 eastern standard time, a Robinson R44 helicopter, N44EK, was substantially damaged during a forced landing after takeoff from Linden Airport (LDJ), Linden, New Jersey. The certificated flight instructor (CFI) and a student pilot were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the local instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
The CFI reported that as the helicopter climbed after takeoff, it began to vibrate and experience a loss of engine power. The CFI conducted an autorotation to a nearby construction site that was located about 1/4 mile from the approach end of runway 27. During the autorotation, the helicopter's skids dug into the muddy ground, and the main rotor blades contacted the tail boom.
Review of maintenance records revealed that the helicopter had been operated for about 20 hours since its most recent annual inspection, which was performed on November 10, 2005.
Subsequent examination of the helicopter by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector, and other maintenance personnel did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions.
The CFI reported 1,920 hours of total flight experience, which included about 300 hours in the accident helicopter make and model.
The reported temperature and dew point at an airport about 5 miles northeast of the accident site, about the time of the accident, was 37 and 21 degrees F; respectively. Review of a carburetor icing probability chart placed the reported temperature and dew point in the "serious icing - glide power" range of the chart.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N44EK
- Reported as
- Robinson R44
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 690
- Airframe hours
- 1,361
- Engine
- Lycoming O-540-F1B5, 250 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Echo Kilo, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 1, 2005 · 20 hours before
- Departed
- LDJ · Linden, NJ
- Destination
- LDJ · Linden, NJ
- Airport
- LDJ · Linden, runway 27, 4,137 × 100 ft, asphalt
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 · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Flight instructor
- Age
- 39
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- December 1, 2005
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 1,920 total · 300 in this make and model · 90 in the last 90 days
- Role
- Student pilot
- Age
- 59
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 400 total · 20 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 260° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 37 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.45 inHg
- Observed at
- EWR, 5 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.
Other investigations on N44EK · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.