Robinson R44-II N44MD
23 March 2014 · Menard, Texas, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 23 March 2014 at about 01:00 local time, a Robinson R44-II registered N44MD was involved in an accident near Menard, 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.
The record
- Date
- at 01:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Menard, Texas, United States
- Nearest airport
- Private (PVT)
- Coordinates
- 30.9104, -99.7806
- Aircraft
- Robinson R44-II
- Registration
- N44MD
- Category
- Helicopter
- Year built
- 2007
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Menard → Menard
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Dusk
- NTSB number
- CEN14LA197
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
The pilot’s inadequate recovery from a practice autorotation, which resulted in an improper touchdown attitude and collision with terrain.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot was performing a recovery from a practice autorotation when the helicopter's tail struck the ground, and the helicopter pitched forward. The main rotor blades cut through the tail then struck the ground, and the helicopter rolled over onto its right side. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction or failure with the helicopter.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Robinson R44 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Sep 2014 | Robinson R44 II | Macedonia, Iowa, United States | Johnson Helicopter Services | Fatal | 1 |
| 23 Jul 2014 | Robinson R44 | Ivashka Township, Russia | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 5 Sep 2014 | Robinson R44 | Roeselare, Belgium | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 9 Feb 2014 | Robinson R44 II | Panacea, Florida, United States | Tallahassee Helicopters, Inc. | Fatal | 2 |
| 25 Apr 2014 | Robinson R44 II | Liberty, Missouri, United States | Eid-Co | No injuries | - |
| 5 Jul 2014 | Robinson R44 | Novosheshminsk, Tatarstan, Russia | AK Bars Aero | Serious injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Jul 2014 | Cessna 177B | Georgetown, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 22 Apr 2014 | Crow MUSTANG II | Morton, Texas, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 25 Oct 2014 | Stol UC 1 | Jacksonville, Texas, United States | Yellow Peril Aero LLC | Minor injuries | - |
| 12 Jun 2014 | Air Tractor AT 301 | Pearsall, Texas, United States | Smith Company Flying Service | No injuries | - |
| 10 Sep 2014 | Smith AEROSTAR 601P | Austin, Texas, United States | Anderson David | Fatal | 1 |
| 4 Jun 2014 | Teunis STARDUSTER TOO SA300 | Fort Worth, Texas, United States | Carter Robert E | Serious injuries | - |