Robinson R44 N21EH
28 September 2019 · Sanford, Maine, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 28 September 2019 at about 14:35 local time, a Robinson R44 registered N21EH, operated by York County Helicopters, was involved in an accident near Sanford, Maine, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously 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 14:35
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Sanford, Maine, United States
- Nearest airport
- Sanford Seacoast Regional (SFM)
- Coordinates
- 43.3939, -70.7081
- Aircraft
- Robinson R44
- Registration
- N21EH
- Category
- Helicopter
- Year built
- 2000
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- York County Helicopters
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Laconia → Sanford
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ERA19LA287
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
The student pilot's failure to maintain helicopter control while hover-taxiing in gusting wind conditions.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
After completing a three-leg cross-country training flight in the helicopter, the solo student was hover-taxiing about 15 ft above the taxiway surface. Witnesses reported that gusting winds prevailed and that they saw the helicopter enter a spin, followed by a nose-low impact with the ground. The helicopter was substantially damaged. The pilot was seriously injured and unable to recall the accident sequence. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Robinson R44 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Oct 2019 | Robinson R44 | Pretoria, South Africa | International Trade And Commodities | No injuries | - |
| 29 Jun 2019 | Robinson R44 | Parsons, West Virginia, United States | Ali Co | Serious injuries | - |
| 17 May 2019 | Robinson R44 | Alpine, Utah, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 19 May 2019 | Robinson R44 II | Tai Po, China | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 10 Jul 2019 | Robinson R44 | Mt Tremblank, Canada | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 5 Dec 2019 | Robinson R44 | Eschowe, South Africa | - | Fatal | 1 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Nov 2019 | Agusta A109 | Penobscot, Maine, United States | SevenBar Aviation LLC | No injuries | - |
| 22 Jun 2019 | Waco YMF-5C | Bar Harbor, Maine, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 3 Jul 2019 | Cessna 172 | Montville, Maine, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 16 Jul 2019 | Aeros SKYRANGER | Brownville, Maine, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 22 Aug 2019 | Cessna A185 | Rangeley Lake, Maine, United States | Acadian Aircraft Leasing Llc | Minor injuries | - |
| 7 Jun 2019 | Cessna A185 | Ashland, Maine, United States | Varney Aviation Llc | No injuries | - |