# NTSB WPR13LA023: Robinson Helicopter R-44 II, N7530F, Toutle, WA, October 26, 2012

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 26, 2012, 11:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Toutle, WA
- Coordinates: 46.312778, -122.266387
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.3128&lon=-122.2664&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering: Settling with power/vortex ring state](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/244)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 11, 2014
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 85444
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR13LA023
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85444/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85444
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13LA023

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain precise altitude control, which resulted in the helicopter entering a settling with power condition while hovering out of ground effect.

## Findings

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

- [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 99 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Maneuvering: Settling with power/vortex ring state](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/244) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/244/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 52 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/244/sequence.md)
- [Autorotation: 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 said that he was using a long line to lift harvested evergreen tree boughs from his property on the side of a mountain. The helicopter was hovering out of ground effect, and he was looking outside at ground personnel when the flight controls began to feel "mushy." The pilot stated that the helicopter began "settling with power" and descending. He attempted to turn and fly more directly into the wind but then he heard the low rotor rpm horn. He entered an autorotation to an open area, but, on touchdown, the steep sloping terrain caused the helicopter to slide into trees and come to rest on its right side. The helicopter was hovering out of ground effect, which created a situation conducive to entering a settling with power (vortex ring state) condition, and the pilot needed to maintain precise altitude control to prevent the condition from developing. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

On October 26, 2012, about 1130 Pacific daylight time, a Robinson Helicopter Company R-44 II, N7530F, sustained substantial damage when it impacted trees following a loss of control while hovering out of ground effect trees near Toutle, Washington. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The pilot was operating the helicopter under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal local flight, which had originated from a remote operating site about 30 minutes before the accident. A flight plan had not been filed. The pilot said the he was using a long line to lift evergreen tree boughs from the side of a mountain to sell as Christmas decorations. He was harvesting these boughs from his own property. The pilot said he was looking outside at his ground personnel when the flight controls began to feel mushy. He knew the helicopter was "settling with power" and "sinking." He attempted to turn towards clean air and fly more directly into the wind. He heard the low rotor horn. He entered an autorotation to an open area but, on touchdown, the steep sloping terrain caused the helicopter to slide into trees and subsequently come to rest on its right side. The helicopter's tail boom and landing skids were bent and/or broken from the helicopter. According to the FAA's Helicopter Flying Handbook, situations that are conducive to a settling with power (vortex ring state) condition include any hover above ground effect altitude and attempting to hover out of ground effect without maintaining precise altitude control. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7530F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7530F-2013-05-13), registration cancelled 2013-05-13, S/N 10313, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R-44 II
- 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: 10313
- Year built: 2004
- Airframe hours: 2106
- Engines: Lycoming IO-540 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Erickson Logging
- Registered owner: Emerald City Aircraft Leasing
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 5, 2012
- Departed: Toutle, WA
- Destination: Toutle, WA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; private; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 7,000 total, 2,200 in this make and model, 40 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observed at: WA99, 28 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 20121026023159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121026023159A), Oct 26, 2012: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Toutle, WA, Substantial damage. Private pilot [privacy data omitted] was the sole occupant while conducting external load operations, moving christmas trees on his private property. During a…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 17, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85444. 620 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 577 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411284&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 43 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411285&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.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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