ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44
Aguadilla, PR — August 8, 2010
Event Information
| Date | August 8, 2010 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | ERA10CA407 |
| Event ID | 20100808X61636 |
| Location | Aguadilla, PR |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 18.37750, -67.02778 |
| Highest Injury | MINR |
Aircraft
| Make | ROBINSON HELICOPTER |
| Model | R44 |
| Category | HELI |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 4 |
| None | 0 |
| Total Injured | 4 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot's inadequate preflight performance calculations, which resulted in the overweight helicopter's lack of hover capability out of ground effect.
Full Narrative
During the takeoff, about 20 feet above the hilltop helipad, the pilot "felt a downdraft hit the helicopter." He stated that he corrected with a collective input, but "got low rpm," and responded with collective and cyclic control inputs. The helicopter descended and impacted the down-sloping hillside, and came to rest on its side, which resulted in substantial damage. When asked if there were any mechanical problems with the helicopter prior to the accident, the pilot stated, "No, it was perfect." Review of performance documents in the Pilot's Operating Handbook revealed that the helicopter was loaded 94 pounds above the manufacturer's maximum gross weight and 120 pounds above the maximum allowable gross weight for out of ground effect hover maneuvers for the environmental conditions present at the time of the accident.
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.