ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44
Stone Lake, WI — November 12, 2016
Event Information
| Date | November 12, 2016 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | GAA17CA070 |
| Event ID | 20161116X11042 |
| Location | Stone Lake, WI |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 45.77861, -91.62389 |
| Highest Injury | MINR |
Aircraft
| Make | ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY |
| Model | R44 |
| Category | HELI |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 1 |
| None | 0 |
| Total Injured | 1 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain lateral control while in a hover and the helicopter’s subsequent impact with a tree.
Full Narrative
The helicopter pilot reported that during a hover taxi for takeoff, about three ft above the ground, he thought that he saw a person at the corner of his drive way. He added that he stopped and the helicopter drifted to the left. Subsequently the main rotor blade impacted a tree, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage.
The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.