Robinson R-44 N52EP
29 June 2006 · Fresno, California, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 29 June 2006 at about 01:00 local time, a Robinson R-44 registered N52EP was involved in an accident near Fresno, California, 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.
The record
- Date
- at 01:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Fresno, California, United States
- Nearest airport
- Fresno Chandler Executive (FCH)
- Coordinates
- 36.7425, -119.8217
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-44
- Registration
- N52EP
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Fresno → Fresno
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX06CA221
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
the pilot's failure to maintain directional control following a loss of tail rotor effectiveness while in a downwind hover.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot lost tail rotor authority control of the helicopter during a downwind hovering turn. The helicopter was parked facing a downwind direction and the pilot estimated the winds at 13 knots. The pilot positioned the helicopter to a hover about 4-5 feet above ground level (agl) and initiated a left pedal turn into the wind. He felt the tail rotor start to shudder, and the helicopter began yawing to the left. The helicopter then entered a spin and started to gain altitude. After three spins, the pilot executed a hovering autorotation at 15 feet agl. The left skid contacted the ground first. The helicopter then nosed forward about 30 degrees, and the main rotor blades hit the ground. The pilot applied aft cyclic, and the helicopter touched down level on both skids. The helicopter came to rest on a sloped area between the taxiway and runway. The pilot stated that the helicopter and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Robinson R-44 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 Oct 2006 | Robinson R-44 | Katrineholm, Sweden | Helitek Hangar i Kariskoga AB | Fatal | 1 |
| 10 May 2006 | Robinson R-44 | West Monroe, Louisiana, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 23 Jul 2006 | Robinson R-44 | Wadsworth, Illinois, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 19 May 2006 | Robinson R-44 | Indiantown, Florida, United States | Henry A. Perry | No injuries | - |
| 27 Jan 2006 | Robinson R-44 | Lorca, Murcia, Spain | - | Fatal | 3 |
| 26 Nov 2006 | Robinson R-44 | Venice, Italy | Giorgio Panto | Fatal | 1 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Jul 2006 | Beechcraft A36 | Bakersfield, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 15 Jul 2006 | Learjet 55 | Van Nuys, California, United States | Clay Lacy Aviation | No injuries | - |
| 18 Dec 2006 | Beechcraft D95A | Gilroy, California, United States | - | Fatal | 3 |
| 19 Oct 2006 | Boeing 737-790 | Los Angeles, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 20 Oct 2006 | Williams BOWERS FLY BABY-1A | Oakdale, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 22 Oct 2006 | Cessna 152 | Prunedale, California, United States | United Flight Services | Minor injuries | - |