# NTSB WPR18WA159: Robinson R44, Ayers Rock, Australia, January 17, 2018

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Foreign investigation
- Date: January 17, 2018
- Place: Ayers Rock, Australia
- Coordinates: -25.276111, 130.968338 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=-25.2761&lon=130.9683&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious, 2 minor
- Status: Led by another country's authority
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Lead agency: Other
- NTSB case key (mKey): 97378
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR18WA159
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97378/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18WA159

## Sequence of events

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

- [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md)

## Factual narrative

On January 17, 2018, at 1800 local time, a Robinson R44 helicopter, VH-HGX, experienced a partial loss of engine power shortly after takeoff. The pilot subsequently initiated an autorotation, landed hard and rolled over near Ayres Rock, Australia. The pilot and one passenger were seriously injured. Two passengers received minor injuries. The helicopter was substantially damaged. The helicopter was being operated under the pertinent civil regulations for the government of Australia. The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Australia. This report is for information purposes only and contains only information released by the Government of Australia. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) P.O. Box 967, Civic Square Canberra A.C.T. 2608 Australia Tel: +612 6274 6054 Fax: +612 6274 6434 www.atsb.gov.au

## Aircraft

- Registration: VH-HGX (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON R44
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 0762
- Engines: TEXTRON LYCOMING O-540-F1B5 235 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

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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