Robinson R44 II N755KT

Summary

On 7 June 2018 at about 18:40 local time, a Robinson R44 II registered N755KT was involved in an accident near Fort Morgan, Alabama, 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

7 June 2018 at 18:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Fort Morgan, Alabama, United States

Coordinates

30.2222, -88.0181

Aircraft

Robinson R44 II

Registration

N755KT

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2004

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Ferry

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Navarre → Baton Rouge

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA18LA161

Nobody was injured.

A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident engine examinations did not reveal any evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The commercial pilot was delivering the helicopter to a factory service center for troubleshooting of an engine-idle discrepancy that maintenance personnel could not resolve following a recent engine crankshaft overhaul and reinstallation. The pilot reported that the engine idled smoothly at engine start and that it initially accelerated smoothly and ran continuously without interruption. However, while the helicopter was at 100 knots and in cruise flight at 400 ft above a beach, the pilot felt "violent shaking," which he initially thought was turbulence. He then added aft cyclic, lowered the collective, scanned the instruments, and the shaking stopped. He then noted zero oil pressure, and the oil pressure light illuminated. The rotor rpm began decaying, so he entered an autorotation. Because people were on the beach, he selected an unoccupied area in the water for a forced landing, during which the tailboom separated. Examination of the engine revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded the normal operation. Although the electrically operated auxiliary fuel pump was not functional during a postaccident test, the engine-driven mechanical fuel pump operated normally. Given that the mechanical fuel pump can sustain engine operation if the auxiliary fuel pump is inoperative, it is unlikely that a preaccident failure of the auxiliary fuel pump resulted in the partial loss of engine power. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.