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Location:Buras, Louisiana
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Accident Number:
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CEN25LA073
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Date & Time:
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January 8, 2025, 13:00 Local
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Registration:
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N430JM
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Aircraft: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control in flight Injuries: 1 Serious, 1 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
Analysis
The pilot reported that after returning from a local flight, he entered an in-ground effect hover taxi directly into the wind at the airport. While in the hover the pilot started a right pedal turn when he encountered a sudden right quartering tailwind. The pilot attempted to correct for the sudden wind; however, directional control was immediately lost, and the helicopter impacted the runway upright which resulted in substantial damage to the main rotor system, the fuselage, and tail rotor system.
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operations. At the time of the accident, the pilot was hover taxiing the helicopter with wind from 020° at 15 knots gusting to 20 knots. The pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented by performing a left pedal turn instead of the right pedal turn.
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 control during a hover taxi with a quartering tailwind.
Findings
Factual Information
History of Flight
Pilot Information
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Certificate:
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Private
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Age:
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43,Male
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Airplane Rating(s):
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Single-engine land; Single-engine sea
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Seat Occupied:
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Right
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Other Aircraft Rating(s):
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Helicopter
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Restraint Used:
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3-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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BasicMed Without waivers/limitations
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Last FAA Medical Exam:
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October 1, 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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Flight Time:
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3000 hours (Total, all aircraft), 54 hours (Total, this make and model), 3000 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 50 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 20 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 0 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
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Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
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Aircraft Make:
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ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY
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Registration:
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N430JM
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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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2005
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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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10733
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Landing Gear Type:
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Skid
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Seats:
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4
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Date/Type of Last Inspection:
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April 17, 2024 Annual
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Certified Max Gross Wt.:
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2500 lbs
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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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3032 Hrs as of last inspection
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Engine Manufacturer:
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Lycoming
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ELT:
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Installed, activated, did not aid in locating accident
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Engine Model/Series:
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IO-540-AE1A5
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Registered Owner:
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On file
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Rated Power:
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205 Horsepower
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Operator:
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On file
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Operating Certificate(s) Held:
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None
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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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Day
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Observation Facility, Elevation:
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KNBG,1 ft msl
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Distance from Accident Site:
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38 Nautical Miles
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Observation Time:
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12:55 Local
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Direction from Accident Site:
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317°
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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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15 knots / 20 knots
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Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:
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/
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Wind Direction:
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20°
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Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
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/
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Altimeter Setting:
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30.35 inches Hg
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Temperature/Dew Point:
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10°C / 10°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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Buras, LA
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Type of Flight Plan Filed:
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None
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Destination:
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Buras, LA
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Type of Clearance:
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None
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Departure Time:
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Type of Airspace:
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Class G
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Airport Information
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Airport:
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Matidora LS84
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Runway Surface Type:
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Asphalt
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Airport Elevation:
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1 ft msl
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Runway Surface Condition:
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Dry
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Runway Used:
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04
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IFR Approach:
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None
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Runway Length/Width:
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2015 ft / 20 ft
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VFR Approach/Landing:
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Straight-in
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Wreckage and Impact Information
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Crew Injuries:
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1 Serious
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Aircraft Damage:
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Substantial
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Passenger Injuries:
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1 Minor
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Aircraft Fire:
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None
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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 Serious, 1 Minor
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Latitude, Longitude:
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29.350896,-89.523582(est)
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Administrative Information
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Investigator In Charge (IIC):
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Finne, Andrew
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Additional Participating Persons:
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Hardwick, Robert; FAA-FSDO; Baton Rouge, LA
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Original Publish Date:
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February 21, 2025
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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=199528
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