# NTSB WPR14CA325: Robinson Helicopter R44 II, N110JC, Honolulu, HI, August 2, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 1, 2014, 15:00 local (Aug 2, 2014, 01:00 UTC) - Place: Honolulu, HI - Coordinates: 21.349521, -157.87944 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=21.3495&lon=-157.8794&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi: Loss of tail rotor effectiveness](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/242) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 13, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 89788 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR14CA325 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89788/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89788 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA325 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions and failure to maintain aircraft control during taxi, which resulted in a loss of tail rotor effectiveness and subsequent impact with the taxiway and a parked fuel truck. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: prop/rotor parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 182 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: ground vehicle](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 132 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi: Loss of tail rotor effectiveness](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/242) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/242/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 100 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/242/sequence.md) - [Taxi: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 74 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: 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 reported that while air-taxiing east about 15 feet above ground level (agl) to parking with adjoining buildings on both sides, which were known for buffeting winds that made it difficult to control the helicopter's yaw, he encountered a strong gust of wind. The helicopter abruptly yawed to the right and he input left pedal control which did not correct the right yaw. The helicopter continued rotating to the right at an increasing speed; full left pedal had no effect. The pilot stated that the helicopter subsequently completed several 360-degree turns to the right, which rendered it completely uncontrollable; he abruptly lowered the collective from about 8 to 10 feet agl to get the helicopter on the ground. During the descent the helicopter's left skid impacted the center of the taxiway, slid toward a fuel truck, and came to rest on its right side. The main rotor blade impacted a fuel truck's windshield. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail boom and the upper and lower cabin/cockpit structure. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that while air-taxiing east about 15 feet above ground level (agl) to parking with adjoining buildings on both sides, which were known for buffeting winds that made it difficult to control the helicopter's yaw, he encountered a strong gust of wind. The helicopter abruptly yawed to the right and he input left pedal control which did not correct the right yaw. The helicopter continued rotating to the right at an increasing speed; full left pedal had no effect. The pilot stated that the helicopter subsequently completed several 360-degree turns to the right, which rendered it completely uncontrollable; he abruptly lowered the collective from about 8 to 10 feet agl to get the helicopter on the ground. During the descent the helicopter's left skid impacted the center of the taxiway, slid toward a fuel truck, and came to rest on its right side. The main rotor blade impacted a fuel truck's windshield. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail boom and the upper and lower cabin/cockpit structure. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N110JC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N110JC-2018-02-27), registration cancelled 2018-02-27, S/N 13346, built 2012 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II (II) - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii) (registry code 7640122) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-ae1a5) (registry code 41899, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 13346 - Year built: 2012 - Airframe hours: 375 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-AE1A5 205 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 7, 2013, 77 hours before - Departed: I-99, Kaunakakai, HI - Destination: HNL, Honolulu, HI - Airport: HNL, Honolulu International ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 75; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,088 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 16 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 15 knots, gusting 25 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: HNL ## 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 20140801013289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140801013289A), Aug 1, 2014: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Honolulu, HI, Substantial damage. N110JC had just landed at hnl and was hovering into parking. The winds at hnl were reported as 18 KTS gusting to 25 KTS. As the aircraft hovered between… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 10, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89788. 6.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40418755&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Data (item 2, .PDF, 266 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40418756&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Data-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Rear View (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 846 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40418757&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Rear%20View%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Side View (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 637 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40418758&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Side%20View%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.