Robinson R44 II N944BC
18 June 2022 · Auburn, Washington, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 18 June 2022 at about 23:23 local time, a Robinson R44 II registered N944BC was involved in an accident near Auburn, Washington, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. 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 23:23
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Auburn, Washington, United States
- Nearest airport
- Auburn Muni (S50)
- Coordinates
- 47.3243, -122.2277
- Aircraft
- Robinson R44 II
- Registration
- N944BC
- Category
- Helicopter
- Year built
- 2013
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- WPR22LA220
People
2 people had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Probable cause
The student pilot’s loss of helicopter control and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action while providing hover training which resulted in a dynamic rollover.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The flight instructor was providing initial flight training to the student. After completing hover and pattern work, they transitioned to a raised grass helicopter practice pad on the airport. After the student completed a successful set-down, the instructor asked him to lift the helicopter into a hover. As the helicopter lifted off the ground, it began to move aft, and the instructor applied forward cyclic. However, the helicopter continued, and he felt the right skid touch the ground. The helicopter then started to roll, and sensing that this could be the beginning of a dynamic rollover event, he reduced collective pitch control, however the helicopter yawed to the left and rolled over. The fuselage and tailboom were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Robinson R44 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Jul 2022 | Robinson R44 | Buenos Aires, Argentina | - | No injuries | - |
| 16 Apr 2022 | Robinson R44 II | Salt Lake City, Utah, United States | Utah Helicopter LLC | No injuries | - |
| 22 Jul 2022 | Robinson R44 II | Waterloo, Illinois, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 25 Jul 2022 | Robinson R44 II | Cedar City, Utah, United States | Southern Utah University | Minor injuries | - |
| 27 Oct 2022 | Robinson R44 | Sarasota, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 28 Jul 2022 | Robinson R44 | Off shore, Ecuador | - | Fatal | 2 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Apr 2022 | Sawby Scott RV-6A | Richland, Washington, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 13 Apr 2022 | Europa XS MONO | Eastsound, Washington, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 12 Jun 2022 | Piper PA-24-250 | Auburn, Washington, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 7 Sep 2022 | Bell 205A-1 | Cougar, Washington, United States | Kachina Aviation | Minor injuries | - |
| 13 Jul 2022 | Piper PA-60-601P | Scappoose, Washington, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 24 Apr 2022 | Cessna 170B | Ravensdale, Washington, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |