Robinson R44 N319CD

Summary

On 1 November 2005 at about 18:00 local time, a Robinson R44 registered N319CD was involved in an accident near Bourne, Massachusetts, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

1 November 2005 at 18:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Bourne, Massachusetts, United States

Nearest airport

Falmouth (FMH)

Coordinates

41.6772, -70.6008

Aircraft

Robinson R44

Registration

N319CD

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

External Load

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Wareham → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC06CA020

1 person had minor injuries.

The inadvertent contact of a lift strap with the tail rotor during external load operations, which resulted in a forced landing and subsequent collision with terrain. A factor in this accident was the gusty wind conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was conducting external load operations, when a gust of wind blew the lifting strap into the tail rotor. The helicopter began to shudder, and rotate to the left. The pilot entered an autorotation; however, during landing, the helicopter rolled over onto its left side. Winds reported at an airport located about 4 miles east-southeast of the accident site, about the time of the accident, were from 200 degrees at 17 knots, with 23 knot gusts.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.