Pilot Debrief

ROBINSON R44 - II near Flagstaff, AZ — 2013-09-25

Final reportWPR13CA424
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Date
2013-09-25
Location
Flagstaff, AZ, USA
Aircraft
ROBINSON R44 - II
Registration
N190SH
Category
Helicopter
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain rotor rpm while landing in a gusty wind at a high density altitude.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he was landing the helicopter in a bowl-shaped meadow surrounded by mountains and trees. While circling the landing zone to determine the surface wind and descending, about 20 feet above ground level, the helicopter encountered a wind gust. The low rotor horn sounded and the pilot regained rpm, but another wind gust from behind again resulted in a loss of rotor rpm. The pilot said he was too low to recover, so he performed a run-on landing. The helicopter struck an earthen berm and rolled onto its left side, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and tail boom. The elevation at the accident site was 8,411 feet; the density altitude was calculated to have been 10,059 feet. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 1 docket document
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents1

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