NTSB Final Report: South Kingstown, RI

Created 136 days ago
by Admin

Tags: NTSB Report
Categories: Press Releases
Views: 302

Analysis

The pilot was practicing various flight profiles over a pond in his helicopter. After completing the first profile, he began a profile that included a normal takeoff, a 10-ft hover, an acceleration to 40 kts, a climb to 50 ft above ground level, then a return to a 10-ft hover. On the pilot’s second attempt at this maneuver, when decelerating and descending back down to a 10 ft hover, the helicopter descended too low. The front skids caught the water and the helicopter descended into the pond, substantially damaging the tail rotor assembly and the main rotor blades. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. He also described that the weather and water conditions at the time of the accident were “calm and clear with no wind ripples on the water surface,” and that this produced a “mirroring effect” that hindered his depth perception.

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 the water while maneuvering at low altitude.

Findings

Aircraft Altitude - Not attained/maintained

Environmental issues Water - Effect on personnel

Personnel issues Visual illusion/disorientation - Pilot
Factual Information

History of Flight

Maneuvering-low-alt flying Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) (Defining event)

Pilot Information

Certificate:

Commercial

Age:

54,Male

Airplane Rating(s):

Single-engine land

Seat Occupied:

Right

Other Aircraft Rating(s):

Helicopter

Restraint Used:

3-point

Instrument Rating(s):

None

Second Pilot Present:

No

Instructor Rating(s):

Helicopter

Toxicology Performed:

 

Medical Certification:

Class 2 With waivers/limitations

Last FAA Medical Exam:

June 29, 2023

Occupational Pilot:

Yes

Last Flight Review or Equivalent:

October 10, 2023

Flight Time:

12050 hours (Total, all aircraft), 7550 hours (Total, this make and model), 11850 hours (Pilot In

 

Command, all aircraft), 39 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 19 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft),

 

1 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

 

 

Passenger Information

Certificate:

 

Age:

 

Airplane Rating(s):

 

Seat Occupied:

Left

Other Aircraft Rating(s):

 

Restraint Used:

 

Instrument Rating(s):

 

Second Pilot Present:

No

Instructor Rating(s):

 

Toxicology Performed:

 

Medical Certification:

 

Last FAA Medical Exam:

 

Occupational Pilot:

No

Last Flight Review or Equivalent:

 

Flight Time:

 

 

 

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make:

ROBINSON HELICOPTER

Registration:

N331EL

 

COMPANY

 

 

Model/Series:

R44 II

Aircraft Category:

Helicopter

Year of Manufacture:

2023

Amateur Built:

 

Airworthiness Certificate:

Normal

Serial Number:

14667

Landing Gear Type:

Skid

Seats:

4

Date/Type of Last

Continuous airworthiness

Certified Max Gross Wt.:

2500 lbs

Inspection:

 

 

 

Time Since Last Inspection:

50 Hrs

Engines:

1 Reciprocating

Airframe Total Time:

50 Hrs at time of accident

Engine Manufacturer:

Lycoming

ELT:

C126 installed, activated, aided

Engine Model/Series:

IO-540-AE1A5

 

in locating accident

 

 

Registered Owner:

On file

Rated Power:

245

Operator:

On file

Operating Certificate(s)

None

 

 

Held:

 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site:

Visual (VMC)

Condition of Light:

Day

Observation Facility, Elevation:

WST,65 ft msl

Distance from Accident Site:

12 Nautical Miles

Observation Time:

08:53 Local

Direction from Accident Site:

244°

Lowest Cloud Condition:

Clear

Visibility

10 miles

Lowest Ceiling:

None

Visibility (RVR):

 

Wind Speed/Gusts:

4 knots /

Turbulence Type

None / None

 

 

Forecast/Actual:

 

Wind Direction:

340°

Turbulence Severity

N/A / N/A

 

 

Forecast/Actual:

 

Altimeter Setting:

30.03 inches Hg

Temperature/Dew Point:

16°C / -1°C

Precipitation and Obscuration:

No Obscuration; No Precipitation

 

Departure Point:

North Kingstown, RI (OQU)

Type of Flight Plan Filed:

None

Destination:

North Kingstown, RI (OQU)

Type of Clearance:

None

Departure Time:

08:10 Local

Type of Airspace:

Class G

Wreckage and Impact Information

 

 

Crew Injuries:

1 None

Aircraft Damage:

Substantial

Passenger

1 None

Aircraft Fire:

None

Injuries:

 

 

 

Ground Injuries:

 

Aircraft Explosion:

None

Total Injuries:

2 None

Latitude,

41.437414,-71.572543(est)

 

 

Longitude:

 

 

Administrative Information

 

 

Investigator In Charge (IIC):

Boggs, Daniel

Additional Participating

Philip Kingston; FAA/FSDO; Burlington, MA

Persons:

 

 

Original Publish Date:

May 29, 2024

Last Revision Date:

 

 

Investigation Class:

Class 4

Note:

The NTSB did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Investigation Docket:

https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194061

 

 

 

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