Robinson R44 N8337Z
15 July 2015 · Sandusky, Michigan, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 15 July 2015 at about 18:00 local time, a Robinson R44 registered N8337Z, operated by Hawk Helicopters LLC, was involved in an accident near Sandusky, Michigan, 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 18:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Sandusky, Michigan, United States
- Coordinates
- 43.4206, -82.8775
- Aircraft
- Robinson R44
- Registration
- N8337Z
- Category
- Helicopter
- Year built
- 1996
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Hawk Helicopters LLC
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Harbor Beach → Sandusky
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- GAA15CA227
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to monitor the landing environment while operating in a confined off-airport site resulting in a wire strike and substantial damage to the helicopter.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot reported that after landing at a remote off-airport site, he was informed by the site owner that the helicopter had collided with a wire during the landing approach. The pilot stated that "I didn't feel anything" when the owner of the field informed him that he struck the wires. The pilot reported that prior to departing on the next leg of his flight he performed a preflight inspection and found a "slight scratch on the tail rotor". The pilot stated that, "the helicopter sounded and felt okay" during the pre-takeoff run-up, and he departed for his home where the helicopter is stored. A post-accident inspection revealed that the helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail rotor drive system. The pilot stated that there were no pre-accident malfunctions or anomalies that would have prevented normal flight operation.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Robinson R44 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Feb 2015 | Robinson R44 II | Calexico, California, United States | John Reed Aviation | No injuries | - |
| 15 Apr 2015 | Robinson R44 II | Dunlap, Illinois, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 9 Sep 2015 | Robinson R44 | Foleyet, Canada | Apex Helicopters Inc. | Fatal | 2 |
| 14 Jun 2015 | Robinson R44-UNDESIGNAT | Timber Creek, Australia, Australia | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 13 Nov 2015 | Robinson R44 II | Alpine, Texas, United States | Concho Aviation LLC | Serious injuries | - |
| 19 Sep 2015 | Robinson R44 | Fort Glenn, Alaska, United States | Bering Pacific Ranches, Ltd. | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Nov 2015 | Piper PA 18-150 | Tecumseh, Michigan, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 19 Jul 2015 | Alon A2 | Holland, Michigan, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 3 Nov 2015 | Glimn KITFOX 2-3 | Escanaba, Michigan, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 17 Nov 2015 | Aeronca 7AC | Fowlerville, Michigan, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 22 Sep 2015 | Lerch RV6A | Deckerville, Michigan, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 10 Aug 2015 | Piper PA 32R-300 | Harbor Springs, Michigan, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |