Robinson R-44 N300FX

Summary

On 3 November 2008 at about 00:12 local time, a Robinson R-44 registered N300FX, operated by Noble Aviation LLC, was involved in an accident near Gallatin, Tennessee, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

3 November 2008 at 00:12

Classification

Accident

Location

Gallatin, Tennessee, United States

Coordinates

36.3364, -86.4381

Aircraft

Robinson R-44

Registration

N300FX

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Noble Aviation LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lebanon → Nashville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

ERA09FA036

1 person died.

The pilot's inadvertent descent into water as a result of the dark night and limited outside visual references.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The certificated private pilot was flying his second of two solo night flights for an add-on helicopter rating. He flew the same route as the previous evening but, due to a change from daylight savings time to standard time, he was flying the route an hour later. The end of nautical twilight was about 15 minutes before the accident and the moon was in its crescent phase. According to radar data, which did not include altitude readouts, the helicopter overflew a river leading to a small town, then followed the river, mid-stream, as it turned to the left. The helicopter then flew over a bridge and disappeared into the river on the other side. Examinations of the wreckage revealed no mechanical anomalies. The pilot did not hold an instrument rating and was conducting night operations over water, which likely resulted in spatial disorientation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.