# NTSB WPR18LA031: Robinson Helicopter R44, N744BS, Page, AZ, November 11, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 11, 2017, 13:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Page, AZ - Coordinates: 36.922222, -111.442222 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9222&lon=-111.4422&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: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report November 15, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 96319 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR18LA031 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96319/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96319 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18LA031 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain pitch control of the helicopter while transitioning from a hover to forward flight. ## 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, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/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: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 43 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot was conducting a personal flight in the helicopter to practice operating in the traffic pattern and performing landings and hovers. When the helicopter was transitioning from a hover to forward flight, the nose suddenly pitched down more than expected. The pilot immediately applied aft cyclic but was unable to arrest the downward pitch. The helicopter subsequently impacted the ground and came to rest on its side. The passenger reported that first the skids and then the rotor blades contacted the ground. During a postaccident examination of the helicopter, flight control continuity was established with no anomalies noted that would have precluded normal operations. Thus, the pilot likely did not maintain a proper pitch attitude while transitioning to forward flight. ## Factual narrative On November 11, 2017, about 1300 mountain standard time, a Robinson R44 helicopter, N744BS, impacted terrain during takeoff from the Page Municipal Airport (PGA), Page, Arizona. The commercial pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries; the helicopter sustained substantial damage. The helicopter was registered to R44 White LLC and operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originally departed about 1245. The pilot reported the purpose of the flight was to practice in the traffic pattern, landings, and hovers. After a normal traffic pattern and landing, he hovered the helicopter. While the helicopter was transitioning from hover to forward flight, the nose suddenly pitched down steeper than the pilot expected. The pilot immediately applied aft cyclic, however, he was unable to recover. The helicopter impacted the ground and came to rest on its side. The passenger reported that the helicopter started to lift off; when it was about one foot above the ground, the helicopter started leaning forward and it continued forward until the skids, then rotor blades, touched the ground. During a postaccident examination of the helicopter, the collective, cyclic, and left anti-torque pedal were manipulated within the cockpit and corresponding motion was observed at the appropriate flight controls. The right anti-torque pedal moved freely from both within the cockpit and from the tailboom; however, no corresponding motion was observed. Visual examination revealed the control tube was fracture separated underneath the heavily damaged floorboard. The operator reported that, on the morning of the accident, the owner of the helicopter flew about two hours with the pilot to orient him in the make/model helicopter involved in the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N744BS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N744BS-2021-01-11), registration cancelled 2021-01-11, S/N 12374, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44 - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R44](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44) (registry code 7640120) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-ae1a5) (registry code 41899, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 12374 - Year built: 2008 - Airframe hours: 1424 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-AE1A5 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 2017 - Departed: PGA, Page, AZ - Destination: PGA, Page, AZ - Airport: PGA, Page Municipal Airport, runway 25, 2,201 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; injuries: minor; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 16, 2017; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,200 total, 3 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: PGA ## 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 20171111018499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20171111018499A), Nov 11, 2017: Robinson Helicopter R44, Page, AZ, Substantial damage. On satuday, November 11, 2017 at approximately 1300 MST, a Robinson R-44 helicopter conducting a pleasure sightseeing flight under CFR part 91, sustained… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 24, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96319. 3.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466838&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Email - Passenger Statement (item 2, .PDF, 123 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466839&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Email%20-%20Passenger%20Statement-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Chief Pilot (item 3, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466840&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Chief%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation Regarding Control Continuity (item 4, .PDF, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466841&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20Regarding%20Control%20Continuity-Master.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 5, .PDF, 61 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466842&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-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.