Robinson R44 N220SW

Summary

On 2 June 2024 at about 18:15 local time, a Robinson R44 registered N220SW was involved in an accident near Gilbertsville, Kentucky, 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

2 June 2024 at 18:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Gilbertsville, Kentucky, United States

Coordinates

36.9370, -88.2293

Aircraft

Robinson R44

Registration

N220SW

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2016

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Carmi → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA24LA236

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter while attempting to take off from sloping terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The helicopter pilot initially landed on his private property, but then decided he wanted to move to an area that was flatter. He described that when he raised the collective pitch control the helicopter “moved back.” Before he was able to recover, the main rotor blades contacted the upsloping terrain, resulting in a rollover and substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.