Robinson R44 II N442RD

Summary

On 28 July 2004 at about 11:30 local time, a Robinson R44 II registered N442RD was involved in an accident near Goldsboro, North Carolina, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

28 July 2004 at 11:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Goldsboro, North Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Goldsboro - private helipad (PVT)

Coordinates

35.3683, -78.0861

Aircraft

Robinson R44 II

Registration

N442RD

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Emerald Isle → Goldsboro

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL04LA155

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to obtain the proper touchdown point during landing on a helipad with an exposed edge, which resulted in an in-flight collision with terrain.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, he executed a landing on a concrete helipad that was elevated approximately six inches above the ground. He stated the helicopter touched down slightly off center, and he attempted to reposition the helicopter on the pad. The pilot stated that, during repositioning, the rear of the skids went off the rear of the pad, the helicopter tilted backward, and the tail rotor struck the ground. Examination of the accident site revealed the concrete helipad was approximately 13 feet long and 13 feet wide, and the width between the helicopter's skids was seven feet. Examination of the helicopter revealed the ninety-degree gearbox was separated, the tail rotor was separated and fragmented, and the lower portion of the vertical fin was crushed. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction with the helicopter.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.