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Location:
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Tupelo, Mississippi
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Accident Number:
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CEN24LA112
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Date & Time:
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February 6, 2024, 19:15 Local
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Registration:
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N4054Y
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Aircraft:
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ROBINSON HELICOPTER
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Aircraft Damage:
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Substantial
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COMPANY R44 II
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Defining Event:
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Tailstrike
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Injuries:
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1 None
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Flight Conducted Under:
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Part 91: General aviation - Personal
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Analysis
The pilot reported that while attempting to land at his private helipad near a lake at night, he was unable to determine his height above the water. As he prepared to return to the departure airport, the tail rotor contacted the water. The pilot attempted to climb, but the helicopter began an un-commanded yaw to the right. The pilot reduced power and lowered the collective. The helicopter subsequently impacted the water and sustained substantial damage to the main rotor, tail boom, and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from water during a dark night landing.
Findings
Personnel issues Monitoring environment - Pilot
Aircraft Altitude - Not attained/maintained
Environmental issues Water - Effect on operation
Environmental issues Dark - Contributed to outcome
Factual Information
History of Flight
Landing Tailstrike (Defining event)
Landing-flare/touchdown Loss of control in flight
Landing-flare/touchdown Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)
Pilot Information
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Certificate:
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Private
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Age:
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60,Male
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Airplane Rating(s):
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Single-engine land; Single-engine
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Seat Occupied:
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Right
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sea; Multi-engine land
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Other Aircraft Rating(s):
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Helicopter
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Restraint Used:
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4-point
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Instrument Rating(s):
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Airplane
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Second Pilot Present:
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No
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Instructor Rating(s):
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None
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Toxicology Performed:
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Medical Certification:
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Class 3 With waivers/limitations
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Last FAA Medical Exam:
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September 21, 2023
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Occupational Pilot:
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No
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Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
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|
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Flight Time:
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(Estimated) 1850 hours (Total, all aircraft), 200 hours (Total, this make and model)
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Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
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Aircraft Make:
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ROBINSON HELICOPTER
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Registration:
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N4054Y
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COMPANY
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Model/Series:
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R44 II
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Aircraft Category:
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Helicopter
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Year of Manufacture:
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2013
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Amateur Built:
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Airworthiness Certificate:
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Normal
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Serial Number:
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13525
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Landing Gear Type:
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Skid
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Seats:
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3
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Date/Type of Last
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November 1, 2023 Annual
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Certified Max Gross Wt.:
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2500 lbs
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Inspection:
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Time Since Last Inspection:
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Engines:
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1 Reciprocating
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Airframe Total Time:
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130 Hrs at time of accident
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Engine Manufacturer:
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Lycoming
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ELT:
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Installed, activated, aided in
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Engine Model/Series:
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IO-540
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locating accident
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Registered Owner:
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MALONEY LEASING LLC
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Rated Power:
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245 Horsepower
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Operator:
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On file
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Operating Certificate(s)
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None
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Held:
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Operator Does Business As:
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Maloney Leasing LLC
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Operator Designator Code:
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Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
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Conditions at Accident Site:
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Visual (VMC)
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Condition of Light:
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Night/dark
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Observation Facility, Elevation:
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KTUP,341 ft msl
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Distance from Accident Site:
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7 Nautical Miles
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Observation Time:
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20:53 Local
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Direction from Accident Site:
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285°
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Lowest Cloud Condition:
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Clear
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Visibility
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10 miles
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Lowest Ceiling:
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None
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Visibility (RVR):
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Wind Speed/Gusts:
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6 knots /
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Turbulence Type
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None / None
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Forecast/Actual:
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Wind Direction:
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10°
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Turbulence Severity
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N/A / N/A
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Forecast/Actual:
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Altimeter Setting:
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30.12 inches Hg
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Temperature/Dew Point:
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8°C / 1°C
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Precipitation and Obscuration:
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No Obscuration; No Precipitation
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Departure Point:
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Tupelo, MS (TUP)
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Type of Flight Plan Filed:
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None
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Destination:
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Tupelo, MS
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Type of Clearance:
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VFR
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Departure Time:
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19:08 Local
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Type of Airspace:
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Class G
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Wreckage and Impact Information
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Crew Injuries:
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1 None
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Aircraft Damage:
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Substantial
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Passenger
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N/A
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Aircraft Fire:
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None
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Injuries:
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|
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Ground Injuries:
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Aircraft Explosion:
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None
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Total Injuries:
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1 None
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Latitude,
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34.227211,-88.632997(est)
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Longitude:
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Administrative Information
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Investigator In Charge (IIC):
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Rutt, Brian
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Additional Participating
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John Parker; FAA - Jackson FSDO
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Persons:
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Original Publish Date:
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April 12, 2024
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Last Revision Date:
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Investigation Class:
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Class 4
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Note:
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The NTSB did not travel to the scene of this accident.
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Investigation Docket:
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https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193774
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The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is an independent federal agency charged by Congress with investigating every civil aviation accident in the United States and significant events in other modes of transportation— railroad, transit, highway, marine, pipeline, and commercial space. We determine the probable causes of the accidents and events we investigate, and issue safety recommendations aimed at preventing future occurrences. In addition, we conduct transportation safety research studies and offer information and other assistance to family members and survivors for each accident or event we investigate. We also serve as the appellate authority for enforcement actions involving aviation and mariner certificates issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and US Coast Guard, and we adjudicate appeals of civil penalty actions taken by the FAA.
The NTSB does not assign fault or blame for an accident or incident; rather, as specified by NTSB regulation, “accident/incident investigations are fact-finding proceedings with no formal issues and no adverse parties … and are not conducted for the purpose of determining the rights or liabilities of any person” (Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations section 831.4). Assignment of fault or legal liability is not relevant to the NTSB’s statutory mission to improve transportation safety by investigating accidents and incidents and issuing safety recommendations. In addition, statutory language prohibits the admission into evidence or use of any part of an NTSB report related to an accident in a civil action for damages resulting from a matter mentioned in the report (Title 49 United States Code section 1154(b)). A factual report that may be admissible under 49 United States Code section 1154(b) is available here.
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