ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II
Broomfield, CO — July 23, 2011
Event Information
| Date | July 23, 2011 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | CEN11CA511 |
| Event ID | 20110726X45143 |
| Location | Broomfield, CO |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 39.91472, -105.11750 |
| Airport | Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Ai |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY |
| Model | R44 II |
| Category | HELI |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 1 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
A loss of control due to the pilot's diverted attention as a result of an open door.
Full Narrative
According to the pilot, the takeoff was normal and as the helicopter accelerated forward, the right door of the helicopter came open. The pilot, who was seated in the right seat, reacted by attempting to secure the door and subsequently lost control of the helicopter. The helicopter impacted the ramp. During the impact, the left skid separated, the right skid was crushed up and bent out, and the firewall and tailrotor were bent. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions prior to the accident. He did state that he had checked the security of the door with elbow pressure prior to departure but postulated that the securing pin was not fully engaged.
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.