Robinson R44 II N779DZ

Summary

On 31 August 2021 at about 01:30 local time, a Robinson R44 II registered N779DZ, operated by Helicopter Air Alaska LLC, was involved in an accident near Pelican, Alaska, 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

31 August 2021 at 01:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Pelican, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

58.0903, -136.4133

Aircraft

Robinson R44 II

Registration

N779DZ

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2003

Engines

1

Operator

Helicopter Air Alaska LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Sitka → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC21LA080

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s loss of control while landing on a remote helipad.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he was landing the helicopter on a remote helipad. After touchdown, he lowered the collective and the helicopter rolled backwards sustaining substantial damage to the main rotor system, fuselage, and tail boom. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation, and that the accident may have been prevented if he had received additional training from the company to include landing on different size helipads, and techniques to ensure the helicopter was safely on the helipad before completely lowering the collective.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.