Robinson R44 II N957R

Summary

On 18 September 2012 at about 20:45 local time, a Robinson R44 II registered N957R, operated by GB Aerial Applications, Inc, was involved in an accident near Slaton, Texas, 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

18 September 2012 at 20:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Slaton, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Slaton Municipal (F49)

Coordinates

33.4853, -101.6617

Aircraft

Robinson R44 II

Registration

N957R

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

GB Aerial Applications, Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Slaton → Slaton

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN12CA643

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s misalignment of the helicopter during landing, which resulted in the helicopter’s fall from a raised platform.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

After a local flight, the pilot positioned the helicopter onto its platform trailer. The helicopter’s left skid touched down on the metal surface, and the pilot then lowered the right skid to the platform. The helicopter started to slip off the platform, so the pilot raised the collective to correct the problem. However, the helicopter fell to the left, the main rotor impacted the ground, and the tail boom was severed. The helicopter came to rest on the skids; the fuel tank was compromised and a post-crash fire consumed a majority of the helicopter.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.