# NTSB WPR14CA385: Robinson Helicopter R44, N8375E, Mokuleia, HI, September 22, 2014

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 21, 2014, 15:00 local (Sep 22, 2014, 01:00 UTC)
- Place: Mokuleia, HI
- Coordinates: 21.579444, -158.197219 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=21.5794&lon=-158.1972&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 13, 2014
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 90139
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR14CA385
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90139/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90139
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA385

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during landing with a quartering tailwind, which resulted in a hard landing.

## 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: [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 · Effect on operation; cases with it: [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Approach: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Settling with power/vortex ring state](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/244); cases with it: [All aircraft, 52 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/244/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)

## Analysis

When the helicopter was inbound to the destination airport, one of the two pilots radioed for the wind information, and was provided a wind direction of 310 degrees at a speed of 10 knots by the Unicom operator. The pilot flew a left traffic pattern for runway 8, which according to the flying pilot, was a "normal approach for winds from the northeast." The pilot planned to land on the compass rose painted just north of the threshold of runway 8. The flight and approach were normal through the turn to the base leg. On short final or in the flare, the helicopter began descending too quickly, and the pilots were unable to arrest the descent before the helicopter struck the ground. The helicopter remained upright; the pilots shut down the helicopter and de-boarded the passengers. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail, tail rotor, tail boom, and fuselage. Although both pilots stated that the helicopter experienced a "settling with power" event, neither pilot could recall the reported winds. The flying pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

When the helicopter was inbound to the destination airport, one of the two pilots radioed for the wind information, and was provided a wind direction of 310 degrees at a speed of 10 knots by the Unicom operator. The pilot flew a left traffic pattern for runway 8, which according to the flying pilot, was a "normal approach for winds from the northeast." The pilot planned to land on the compass rose painted just north of the threshold of runway 8. The flight and approach were normal through the turn to the base leg. On short final or in the flare, the helicopter began descending too quickly, and the pilots were unable to arrest the descent before the helicopter struck the ground. The helicopter remained upright; the pilots shut down the helicopter and de-boarded the passengers. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail, tail rotor, tail boom, and fuselage. Although both pilots stated that the helicopter experienced a "settling with power" event, neither pilot could recall the reported winds. The flying pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N8375E (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 0385
- Year built: 1997
- Airframe hours: 2059
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540 SERIES 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 2, 2014, 50 hours before
- Departed: PHNL, Honolulu, HI
- Destination: PHDH, Mokuleia, HI
- Airport: PHDH, Dillingham Field, runway 8, 9,007 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 19, 2014; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 21,947 total, 22 in this make and model, 19,730 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 28 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours
- Pilot; age 32; injuries: none; private; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 18, 2014; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 310 total, 310 in this make and model, 259 as pilot in command, 43 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 10 knots
- Observed at: PHDH

## 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 20140921019789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140921019789A), Sep 21, 2014: Robinson Helicopter R44, Dillingham Airf, HI, Substantial damage. Pilot, [privacy data omitted], was on the controls at the time of accident. [privacy data omitted] Conducted a steep approach to landing rwy 08 with a tail…

## Docket (7 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 5, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90139. 2.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40418547&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Record of Conversation - Pilots (item 2, .PDF, 75 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40418548&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilots-Master.PDF
- Record of Conversation - Unicom Operator (item 3, .PDF, 69 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40418549&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Unicom%20Operator-Master.PDF
- Photo 1 - Tail Fin (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 206 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40418550&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Tail%20Fin%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 2 - Tail Rotor (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 148 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40418551&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Tail%20Rotor%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 3 - Fuselage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 161 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40418552&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20Fuselage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 4 - Tail Rotor Drive Shaft (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 7, .PDF, 193 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40418553&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204%20-%20Tail%20Rotor%20Drive%20Shaft%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.

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