# NTSB WPR09CA224: Robinson R44, N441CB, Cottonwood, AZ, May 3, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 3, 2009, 12:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Cottonwood, AZ
- Coordinates: 34.776668, -111.998336 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7767&lon=-111.9983&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 22, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 73763
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09CA224
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73763/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73763
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA224

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate visual lookout and failure to maintain clearance from wires.

## Findings

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

- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Flight crew (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 45 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md)
- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: 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 local sightseeing flight departed Prescott to tour the Jerome, Cottonwood, and Verde Rivers areas in Arizona. The pilot was maneuvering through a dry river bed in a hilly area. He did not see a set of power lines until they hit the windshield about level with the top of the instrument panel. The nose immediately pitched up and then quickly pitched forward. The pilot estimated that the airspeed was 70 knots and that the altitude was 150 feet above ground level. He lowered the collective to enter an autorotation but delayed the flare until passing over a ridgeline. He was able to bleed off most of the airspeed and leveled the skids prior to touchdown; however, the skids dug into soft dirt and the helicopter pitched forward. The main rotor blades were still at 100 percent rpm when they struck the ground and sustained substantial damage. The helicopter rocked back and came to rest upright on the skids. The main rotor blades, mast, firewall, tail boom, and tail rotor driveshaft sustained substantial damage.

## Factual narrative

The local sightseeing flight departed Prescott to tour the Jerome, Cottonwood, and Verde Rivers areas in Arizona. The pilot was maneuvering through a dry river bed in a hilly area. He did not see the power lines until they hit the windshield about level with the top of the instrument panel. The nose immediately pitched up and then quickly pitched forward. The pilot estimated that the airspeed was 70 knots, and the altitude was 150 feet above ground level (agl). He lowered the collective to enter an autorotation, but delayed the flare until passing over a ridgeline. He was able to bleed off most of the airspeed, and leveled the skids prior to touchdown; however, the skids dug into soft dirt, and the helicopter pitched forward. The main rotor blades were still at 100 percent revolutions per minute (rpm) when they struck the ground and sustained substantial damage. The helicopter rocked back, and came to rest upright on the skids. The main rotor blades, mast, firewall, tail boom, and tail rotor drive shaft sustained substantial damage.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N441CB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N441CB-2010-01-28), registration cancelled 2010-01-28, S/N 10068, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON R44
- Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii) (registry code 7640122) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 10068
- Airframe hours: 1541
- Engines: Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5 205 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Other work use, Part 91
- Operator: Guidance Helicopters, Inc.
- Registered owner: Guidance Helicopters, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 13, 2009, 86 hours before
- Departed: PRC, Prescott, AZ
- Destination: PRC, Prescott, AZ

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 18, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 1,076 total, 213 in this make and model, 993 as pilot in command, 160 in the last 90 days, 51 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 12 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observed at: PRC, 25 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 20090503008899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090503008899A), May 3, 2009: Robsin R44RAVENII, Cottonwood, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) On 5-3-09 at 1230 MST N441CB was approximately 4NM north northeast of Cottonwood airport, Cottonwood, Arizona, and struck three power lines. N441CB…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 8, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73763. 784 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 784 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40312764&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.

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