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August 10, 2012 · Robinson Helicopter R44 II · N144DZ

Belgium, WI

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 10, 2012
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Belgium, WI
Aircraft
Robinson Helicopter R44 II
Tail Number
N144DZ
Operator
Sun Aero Helicopters
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CEN12LA573

The pilot was trying to land the helicopter in a confined area, between trees, a house, and a beach wall. The helicopter touched down on a slight hump that was concealed by grass and started to slide backwards. The pilot pulled up on the collective, and the helicopter lifted off again rapidly. The pilot tried to maneuver the helicopter to remain within and land again in the confined area. When the pilot landed again, the helicopter settled down on the front tips of the skids, which then broke at the fuselage down arm attach point. During the postaccident examination of the helicopter, the pilot noted that one of the main rotor blades sustained impact damage consistent with debris being blown up into the rotor during the landing. The pilot did not list any mechanical malfunctions associated with the helicopter during the accident flight. Nearby wind was reported to be out of 350 degrees at 12 knots, gusting to 22 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the helicopter while landing in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in a hard landing.

Full Narrative

On August 10, 2012, about 1600 central daylight time, a Robinson Helicopter Company model R44 II, N144DZ, had a hard landing on a private landing area near Belgium, Wisconsin. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The helicopter’s main rotor blades sustained substantial damage when debris, associated with the landing, impacted the rotor blades. The helicopter was registered to Chicago Helicopter Express LLC, and was operated by Sun Aero Helicopters under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Day visual flight rules (VFR) conditions prevailed for the flight, which did not operate on a VFR flight plan. The flight originated from the Waukesha County Airport, near Waukesha, Wisconsin, at 1530. According to the pilot’s accident report, he was trying to land the helicopter in a confined area, which contained a hump concealed by grass. The helicopter landed on the hump and started to slide backwards. The pilot pulled up on the collective. The helicopter lifted rapidly and the pilot corrected left and right to keep the helicopter within the confined area. The pilot elected to set the helicopter straight down again. The helicopter settled on the front tips of the skids. The skids broke at the point where the down arm meets the skids. During the postflight inspection of the helicopter, the pilot noted that one of the main rotor blades sustained impact damage consistent with debris being blown up into the rotor during the landing. The pilot did not list any mechanical malfunctions associated with the helicopter associated during the accident flight. At 1653, the recorded weather at the Sheboygan County Memorial Airport, near Sheboygan, Wisconsin, was: Wind 350 degrees at 12 knots gusting to 22 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition clear; temperature 21 degrees C; dew point 10 degrees C; altimeter 29.96 inches of mercury.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:00 CDT
Nearest AirportPRIVATE (0nm)
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftRobinson Helicopter R44 II
Tail NumberN144DZ
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageSubstantial
OperatorSun Aero Helicopters
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-540-AE1A5 · Reciprocating · 300
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 26 · Second Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind350° @ 12 kt, gusting 22 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point46
Altimeter29.95 inHg
Observation Time21:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data