# NTSB WPR19LA002: Robinson R44, N611TH, Salinas, CA, October 7, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 6, 2018, 18:30 local (Oct 7, 2018, 01:30 UTC) - Place: Salinas, CA · Open field - Coordinates: 36.662776, -121.60639 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6628&lon=-121.6064&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 98420 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR19LA002 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98420/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98420 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19LA002 ## Probable cause The partial loss of engine power after takeoff due to faulty wiring to the engine governor. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine controls: eng cntl sys wiring](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057697): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Damaged/degraded (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057697/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057697/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) ## Analysis Shortly after takeoff, as the pilot turned the helicopter onto the crosswind leg of the traffic pattern, he noticed an “immediate low rotor speed,” a loss of engine power, and the helicopter yawed to the left. The pilot increased power; however, both the engine and rotor rpm continued to decrease rapidly. The pilot lowered the collective to regain and maintain rotor rpm and initiated an autorotation to an agricultural field. The helicopter landed hard, and a rotor blade severed the tail boom. The pilot stated that he experienced the same malfunctions twice during a flight about 3 months before the accident (low rotor speed and loss of engine power). During this flight, he was able to land the helicopter without incident. A postaccident examination of the helicopter revealed faulty wiring to the engine governor. Because of the faulty wiring, the governor was likely unable to sense rotor and engine rpm and make the necessary adjustments to keep rotor rpm constant, resulting in a loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On October 6, 2018, at 1437 Pacific daylight time, a Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, N611TH, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Salinas, California. The pilot was not injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, as he turned the helicopter onto the crosswind leg of the traffic pattern shortly after takeoff, he noticed an “immediate low rotor speed,” a loss of engine power, and the helicopter yawed to the left. The helicopter was at an altitude of 600 ft mean sea level. The pilot increased power; however, both the engine and rotor rpm continued to decrease rapidly. The pilot lowered the collective to regain and maintain rotor rpm and initiated an autorotation to an agricultural field. The helicopter landed hard, and a rotor blade severed the tail boom. The pilot stated that he experienced the same malfunctions twice during a flight on July 25, 2018 (low rotor speed and loss of engine power). During this flight, he was able to land the helicopter without incident. A postaccident examination of the helicopter revealed faulty wiring to the engine governor. According to a mechanic who conducted the examination, the wiring was “cut and stripped by an automatic machine at the Robinson factory.” ## Aircraft - Registration: [N611TH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N611TH), registered now, S/N 12344, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Robinson R44 (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: 12344 - Year built: 2008 - Airframe hours: 983.2 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5 245 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Condition, August 15, 2018, 2.1 hours before - Departed: SNS, Salinas, CA - Destination: PRB, Paso Robles, CA - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; injuries: none; private; medical: class 2; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 111 total, 63 in this make and model, 64 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 12 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.83 inHg - Observed at: KSNS - METAR: METAR KSNS 070053Z AUTO 26012KT 8SM CLR 18/12 A2983 RMK AO2 SLP111 T01830122= ## 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 20181006019539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20181006019539A), Oct 6, 2018: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Salinas, CA, Substantial damage. Pilot stated that engine lost power and executed an emergency hard landing in a field about 2 NM south of the Salinas airport. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 5, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98420. 2.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13441537&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Summary of findings - NTSB (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 217 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13442045&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Summary%20of%20Findings%20WPR19LA002_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 901 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13441945&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo-Rel.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.