ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 196032
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| Date: | Friday 9 June 2017 |
| Time: | 08:20 |
| Type: |  Robinson R44 II |
| Owner/operator: | Private |
| Registration: | N590GG |
| MSN: | 13973 |
| Year of manufacture: | 2016 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 112 hours |
| Engine model: | Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 4 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | near Douglas, WY -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Landing |
| Nature: | Executive |
| Departure airport: | Douglas, WY |
| Douglas, WY | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The airline transport pilot and three passengers departed in a reciprocating engine-powered helicopter for an aerial tour of ranch operations. The pilot reported that, before departure, about a 12- to 15-knot westerly wind prevailed. During the tour flight and on the approach to a vacant spot for landing near a cattle facility, the pilot observed light wind conditions. The pilot also noted that the power and glidepath indications were normal and that the airspeed was 30 knots at 100 ft above ground level (agl). The pilot added that "somewhere below 50 ft agl," there was a sudden, abrupt, high descent rate; as he manipulated the controls, the low rpm light illuminated, and the low rpm warning horn sounded. There was insufficient altitude to lower the collective and regain rpm before the helicopter impacted terrain and rolled to the side while the engine continued to run.
The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. After the accident, he observed a steady tailwind of at least 15 knots. Based on the available information, it is likely that, after encountering a sudden wind shift to a tailwind during landing, the helicopter entered a descent from which the pilot could not recover. Based on the conditions at the time of the accident, the calculated density altitude was 7,015 ft, and the helicopter was near the maximum gross weight of 2,500 lbs.
Probable Cause: The pilot's inability to control the helicopter's descent after encountering a sudden wind shift to a tailwind while performing a near maximum gross weight landing at a high density altitude.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB
FAA register: http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=590GG
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 09-Jun-2017 18:27 | Anon. | Added |
| 09-Jun-2017 18:28 | harro | Updated [Operator, Embed code] |
| 10-Jun-2017 08:18 | Aerossurance | Updated [Time, Location, Embed code] |
| 06-Jul-2017 13:47 | Aerossurance | Updated [Nature, Source, Narrative] |
| 01-Oct-2019 18:07 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Operator, Country, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Embed code, Narrative, Accident report, ] |
| 01-Oct-2019 19:42 | harro | Updated [Country, Source, Embed code, Narrative, Accident report, ] |
| 01-Oct-2019 19:43 | harro | Updated [Embed code] |
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