- Date
- September 20, 2012, 11:45 local (18:45 UTC)
- Place
- McMinnville, OR
- Injuries
- 3 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N74744Robinson Helicopter R44 II
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 22, 2013
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20120920021169A
- Case key
- 85102
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 aggressive takeoff maneuver, which resulted in a loss of control.
Findings · 3
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 stated that after taking two passengers on a sightseeing flight he made an approach and landing to the helipad. However, he was not satisfied with the landing and he lifted the helicopter off the helipad, intending to reposition and re-land the helicopter. After the helicopter became airborne again, it started spinning to the right and pitched up, rising to about 50 feet. The pilot reduced the throttle setting, lowered the collective, and descended. As the helicopter approached the ground, the pilot pulled up again on the collective. The low rotor rpm horn was sounding as they descended. The helicopter impacted the ground in a 30-degree left bank angle, which collapsed the left skid, and the helicopter rolled over on its left side. All occupants egressed through the right cabin door. The pilot said that he may have pulled up too aggressively during his attempt to reposition the helicopter, resulting in the loss of control. Postaccident examination of the helicopter revealed no evidence of preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot stated that after taking two other passengers on an hour-long sightseeing flight he made an approach and landing to the helipad. He was not satisfied with the landing and he lifted off the helipad to reposition and re land the helicopter. Once airborne the helicopter started spinning to the right, rising to about 50 feet, and pitching up. He rotated the throttle off, lowered the collective, and as the helicopter approached the ground, he pulled up on the collective. The low rotor rpm horn was sounding as they descended. The helicopter impacted the ground in a 30-degree left angle of bank, collapsing the left skid, and rolled over on its left side. All occupants egressed through the right cabin door. The pilot said that he may have pulled up too aggressively when attempting to reposition the helicopter, precipitating the loss of control. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the helicopter and found no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operations.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N74744
- Reported as
- Robinson Helicopter R44 II
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 10900
- Airframe hours
- 1,396
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-540 SER, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Harris Robert G
- Registered owner
- Harris Robert G
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · July 10, 2012
- Departed
- KMMV · McMinnville, OR
- Destination
- KMMV · McMinnville, OR
- Airport
- KMMV · McMinnville Municipal Airport
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
- 64
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificates
- Private, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- October 22, 2011
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 6,500 total · 165 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,300 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 59 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.12 inHg
- Observed at
- KMMV
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 14, 2012, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.4 MB 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.