Location: Palmer, Alaska Accident Number: ANC22LA001
Date & Time: October 10, 2021, 13:20 Local Registration: N555EL (A1);FA3P4CAK37 (A2)
Aircraft: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II (A1); DJI AIR IIS (A2)
Aircraft Damage: Substantial (A1); Destroyed (A2)
Defining Event: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) Injuries: 4 None (A1); 1 None (A2)
Flight Conducted Under: Part 135: Air taxi & commuter - Non-scheduled - Sightseeing (A1); Part 107: Small UAS (A2)
Analysis
The pilot of the helicopter reported that, while conducting an air tour flight he made about a 90° right turn near a scenic area, when he heard a faint “ting” sound. He stated that there was no indication of a mechanical failure or malfunction and the helicopter continued to operate normally, so he continued the flight. After shutdown he noticed damage to one of the main rotor blades and concluded that the helicopter had collided with an uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV). The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor blade.
The pilot of the unmanned aircraft system (UAS) reported that while flying his UAV near a scenic area a red helicopter suddenly appeared and collided with the UAV.
14 CFR Part 107.37 Operations near aircraft, right of way rules, states in part:
- Each small unmanned aircraft must yield the right of way to all aircraft, airborne vehicles, and launch and reentry vehicles. Yielding the right of way means that the small unmanned aircraft must give way to the aircraft or vehicle and may not pass over, under, or ahead of it unless well clear.
- No person may operate a small unmanned aircraft so close to another aircraft as to create a collision hazard.
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be: The unmanned aircraft pilot’s failure to yield the right of way to the helicopter.
Findings
Personnel issues (A1) - Monitoring other aircraft - Pilot of other aircraft
Personnel issues (A2) - Monitoring other aircraft - Pilot
|
Factual Information
History of Flight
Maneuvering-low-alt flying (A1) - Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) (Defining event)
|
Pilot Information (A1)
|
Certificate:
|
Commercial; Flight instructor
|
Age:
|
29,Male
|
|
Airplane Rating(s):
|
None
|
Seat Occupied:
|
Right
|
|
Other Aircraft Rating(s):
|
Helicopter
|
Restraint Used:
|
5-point
|
|
Instrument Rating(s):
|
Helicopter
|
Second Pilot Present:
|
|
|
Instructor Rating(s):
|
Helicopter; Instrument helicopter
|
Toxicology Performed:
|
|
|
Medical Certification:
|
Class 1 Without waivers/limitations
|
Last FAA Medical Exam:
|
January 7, 2021
|
|
Occupational Pilot:
|
Yes
|
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
|
June 7, 2021
|
|
Flight Time:
|
1252 hours (Total, all aircraft), 1020 hours (Total, this make and model), 1188 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 106 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 21 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 2 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
|
Pilot Information (A2)
|
Certificate:
|
None
|
Age:
|
50
|
|
Airplane Rating(s):
|
None
|
Seat Occupied:
|
None
|
|
Other Aircraft Rating(s):
|
None
|
Restraint Used:
|
|
|
Instrument Rating(s):
|
None
|
Second Pilot Present:
|
|
|
Instructor Rating(s):
|
None
|
Toxicology Performed:
|
|
|
Medical Certification:
|
Unknown
|
Last FAA Medical Exam:
|
|
|
Occupational Pilot:
|
No
|
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
|
|
|
Flight Time:
|
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information (A1)
|
Aircraft Make:
|
ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY
|
Registration:
|
N555EL
|
|
Model/Series:
|
R44 II
|
Aircraft Category:
|
Helicopter
|
|
Year of Manufacture:
|
2005
|
Amateur Built:
|
|
|
Airworthiness Certificate:
|
Normal
|
Serial Number:
|
10665
|
|
Landing Gear Type:
|
High skid
|
Seats:
|
4
|
|
Date/Type of Last Inspection:
|
October 6, 2021 100 hour
|
Certified Max Gross Wt.:
|
2500 lbs
|
|
Time Since Last Inspection:
|
|
Engines:
|
1 Reciprocating
|
|
Airframe Total Time:
|
3760.4 Hrs at time of accident
|
Engine Manufacturer:
|
LYCOMING
|
|
ELT:
|
C126 installed, not activated
|
Engine Model/Series:
|
IO-540-AE1A5
|
|
Registered Owner:
|
|
Rated Power:
|
245 Horsepower
|
|
Operator:
|
|
Operating Certificate(s) Held:
|
Rotorcraft external load (133), Commuter air
carrier (135), Agricultural
aircraft (137)
|
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information (A2)
|
Aircraft Make:
|
DJI
|
Registration:
|
FA3P4CAK37
|
|
Model/Series:
|
AIR IIS
|
Aircraft Category:
|
Unknown
|
|
Year of Manufacture:
|
|
Amateur Built:
|
|
|
Airworthiness Certificate:
|
None
|
Serial Number:
|
3YTSJ4T0030A8A
|
|
Landing Gear Type:
|
None
|
Seats:
|
|
|
Date/Type of Last Inspection:
|
Unknown
|
Certified Max Gross Wt.:
|
|
|
Time Since Last Inspection:
|
|
Engines:
|
|
|
Airframe Total Time:
|
|
Engine Manufacturer:
|
|
|
ELT:
|
Not installed
|
Engine Model/Series:
|
|
|
Registered Owner:
|
|
Rated Power:
|
|
|
Operator:
|
|
Operating Certificate(s) Held:
|
None
|
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
|
Conditions at Accident Site:
|
Visual (VMC)
|
Condition of Light:
|
Day
|
|
Observation Facility, Elevation:
|
PAAQ,230 ft msl
|
Distance from Accident Site:
|
18 Nautical Miles
|
|
Observation Time:
|
00:53 Local
|
Direction from Accident Site:
|
310°
|
|
Lowest Cloud Condition:
|
|
Visibility
|
7 miles
|
|
Lowest Ceiling:
|
Overcast / 2500 ft AGL
|
Visibility (RVR):
|
|
|
Wind Speed/Gusts:
|
3 knots /
|
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:
|
/
|
|
Wind Direction:
|
70°
|
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
|
/
|
|
Altimeter Setting:
|
29.69 inches Hg
|
Temperature/Dew Point:
|
4°C / 3°C
|
|
Precipitation and Obscuration:
|
Light - None - Rain
|
|
|
|
Departure Point:
|
Palmer, AK (A1); Palmer, AK (A2)
|
Type of Flight Plan Filed:
|
Company VFR (A1); None (A2)
|
|
Destination:
|
Palmer, AK (A1); Palmer, AK (A2)
|
Type of Clearance:
|
None (A1); None (A2)
|
|
Departure Time:
|
|
Type of Airspace:
|
Class G (A1); Class G (A2)
|
Wreckage and Impact Information (A1)
|
Crew Injuries:
|
1 None
|
Aircraft Damage:
|
Substantial
|
|
Passenger Injuries:
|
3 None
|
Aircraft Fire:
|
None
|
|
Ground Injuries:
|
|
Aircraft Explosion:
|
None
|
|
Total Injuries:
|
4 None
|
Latitude, Longitude:
|
61.40406,-148.60457(est)
|
Wreckage and Impact Information (A2)
|
Crew Injuries:
|
1 None
|
Aircraft Damage:
|
Destroyed
|
|
Passenger Injuries:
|
|
Aircraft Fire:
|
None
|
|
Ground Injuries:
|
|
Aircraft Explosion:
|
None
|
|
Total Injuries:
|
1 None
|
Latitude, Longitude:
|
61.40406,-148.60457(est)
|
Administrative Information
|
Investigator In Charge (IIC):
|
Banning, David
|
|
|
Additional Participating Persons:
|
Patrick Teagarden; FAA; Anchorage, AK
|
|
|
Original Publish Date:
|
August 12, 2022 Investigation Class:
|
4
|
|
Note:
|
The NTSB did not travel to the scene of this accident.
|
|
|
Investigation Docket:
|
https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104098
|
|
READ MORE ROTORCRAFT PRO: https://justhelicopters.com/Magazine
WATCH ROTORCRAFT PRO YOUTUBE CHANNEL: https://buff.ly/3Md0T3y
You can also find us on
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rotorcraftpro/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/rotorcraftopro/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/justhelicopters