# NTSB WPR17LA167: Robinson Helicopter R44 II, N7535G, Santa Ana, CA, July 27, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 26, 2017, 19:45 local (Jul 27, 2017, 02:45 UTC) - Place: Santa Ana, CA - Coordinates: 33.675556, -117.868331 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6756&lon=-117.8683&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 6, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 95673 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR17LA167 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95673/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95673 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17LA167 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain helicopter control while maneuvering during takeoff. ## 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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [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: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338); cases with it: [All aircraft, 563 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot reported that during takeoff, the helicopter rolled to the right, and he was unable to arrest the roll with cyclic input. The right skid and main rotor blades struck the ground, and the helicopter spun 360° before it came to rest upright with the tail rotor assembly severed from the tailboom. Postaccident examination of the flight control system revealed flight control continuity with no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. In addition, the pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter at the time of the accident. Thus, it is likely that the pilot failed to maintain helicopter control while maneuvering during takeoff. ## Factual narrative On July 26, 2017, about 1945 Pacific daylight time, a Robinson Helicopter R44, N7535G, was substantially damaged following takeoff at John Wayne-Orange County Airport (SNA), Santa Ana, California. The commercial pilot was not injured. The helicopter was registered to and operated by RS Aviation Services as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated on a company flight plan. The flight originated from SNA with an intended destination of Bob Hope Airport (BUR), Burbank, California. The pilot reported that during takeoff, he experienced a sudden right roll which was uncorrectable with the cyclic input. Video that captured the accident sequence revealed that shortly after takeoff, the helicopter rolled to the right, and the right skid and main rotor blades struck the ground. The helicopter then spun 360° before it came to rest upright with the tailrotor assembly severed from the tailboom. Postaccident examination of the wreckage at the accident site by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that flight control continuity was established with no evidence of a preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter. ## Aircraft - Registration: N7535G (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II (II) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 11181 - Year built: 2006 - Airframe hours: 1808.3 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-AE1A5 245 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: Orbic Air LLC - Registered owner: Rs Aviation Services - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 11, 2017, 38 hours before - Departed: SNA, Santa Ana, CA - Destination: BUR, Burbank, CA - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: SNA, John Wayne Airport-Orange Coun ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 11, 2017; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,298 total, 657 in this make and model, 1,231 as pilot in command, 148 in the last 90 days, 39 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 220° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: SNA ## 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 20170726010079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170726010079A), Jul 26, 2017: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Santa Ana, CA, Substantial damage. Pilot of helicopter was in a hovering take off approx 20 to 30 feet AGL and was transitioning from hover to forward climbing flight when the helicopter banked… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 2, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95673. 2.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473885&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 2, .PDF, 27 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473886&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Master.PDF - Photos (item 3, .PDF, 389 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473887&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-Master.PDF - Video (item 4, .PDF, 32 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473888&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Video-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.