- Date
- October 17, 2013, 21:30 local (Oct 18, 2013, 04:30 UTC)
- Place
- Sedro Woolley, WA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N414CCRobinson R44 - II
- Defining event
- Initial climb: VFR encounter with IMC
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report December 2, 2013
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20131017020639A
- Case key
- 88211
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 non-instrument rated pilot's inadvertent encounter with instrument meteorological conditions during initial climb and his improper decision to continue flight, which resulted in an in-flight impact with a tree and an emergency descent that resulted in a roll over on landing.
Findings · 5
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 reported that prior to the night departure he checked the weather conditions for airports along his route of flight, each of which reported visual meteorological conditions existed. The pilot also observed that the night sky was clear during his preflight. After performing a maximum performance takeoff, and when about 65 feet above ground level, he encountered a thick layer of fog that had moved in during the 7-10 minute warm-up period and he lost all visual reference to the surrounding area. Having determined that he was able to keep the helicopter in a level attitude, the pilot decided to continue his ascent in an effort to get above the fog. A few seconds after initiating the ascent the helicopter impacted the top of a cedar tree. The pilot initiated an emergency descent and the helicopter sustained substantial damage after it impacted terrain and rolled over on its left side. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that prior to the night departure he checked the weather conditions for airports along his route of flight, each of which reported visual meteorological conditions existed. The pilot also observed that the night sky was clear during his preflight. After performing a maximum performance takeoff, and when about 65 feet above ground level, he encountered a thick layer of fog that had moved in during the 7-10 minute warm-up period and he lost all visual reference to the surrounding area. Having determined that he was able to keep the helicopter in a level attitude, the pilot decided to continue his ascent in an effort to get above the fog. A few seconds after initiating the ascent the helicopter impacted the top of a cedar tree. The pilot initiated an emergency descent and the helicopter sustained substantial damage after it impacted terrain and rolled over on its left side. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N414CC
- Reported as
- Robinson R44 - II (II)
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 13401
- Built
- 2013
- Airframe hours
- 278
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-540, 235 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Operator
- Kurt Mayhall
- Registered owner
- The Time Machine LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 10, 2013 · 57 hours before
- Departed
- Sedro Woolley, WA
- Destination
- BFI · Seattle, WA
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
- 49
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 257 total · 257 in this make and model · 159 as pilot in command · 94 in the last 90 days · 34 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 0 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 100 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 46 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.26 inHg
- Observed at
- BVS, 9 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 15, 2013, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.8 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.