Robinson R-44 N144AK
26 June 2002 · Shageluk, Alaska, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 26 June 2002 at about 17:00 local time, a Robinson R-44 registered N144AK, operated by Quicksilver Air, Inc., was involved in an accident near Shageluk, Alaska, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 17:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Shageluk, Alaska, United States
- Coordinates
- 62.4667, -159.5600
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-44
- Registration
- N144AK
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Quicksilver Air, Inc.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Positioning
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Shageluk → Shageluk
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ANC02LA061
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain a proper glide path. A factor associated with the accident was the pilot's diverted attention.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot was making a visual approach, over water, to a beach on the shore of a lake. About 200 feet above lake level the pilot said he looked inside the helicopter to check the carburetor heat. When he looked up, the helicopter was headed nose down toward the water. As he made corrective actions, the tail rotor struck the surface of the water. The helicopter continued its descent into the lake, and submerged in about nine feet of water.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Robinson R-44 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 May 2002 | Robinson R-44 | Cantwell, Alaska, United States | U.s. Geological Survey | No injuries | - |
| 29 Aug 2002 | Robinson R-44 | Ketchikan, Alaska, United States | David Zampino | Fatal | 2 |
| 28 Jun 2002 | Robinson R-44 | Catamara, Ecuador | Colaereos S.a. | Serious injuries | - |
| 21 Feb 2002 | Robinson R-44 | Verona, Italy | Euram Inc. | Fatal | 1 |
| 7 Jun 2002 | Robinson R-44 | Galena, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 3 Aug 2002 | Robinson R-44 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | Helicopter Services and Instruction | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Jun 2002 | Piper PA-18 | Fairbanks, Alaska, United States | Uriah Strong | No injuries | - |
| 8 Aug 2002 | Williamson GLASTAR | Anchorage, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 11 Sep 2002 | Cessna 180 | Tenakee Springs, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 20 Sep 2002 | De Havilland DHC-2 | Bethel, Alaska, United States | Ptarmigan Air | No injuries | - |
| 17 Mar 2002 | McDonnell Douglas MD-82 | Anchorage, Alaska, United States | Alaska Airlines, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 12 Jul 2002 | De Havilland DHC-2 | Port Alsworth, Alaska, United States | Minta Inc | Fatal | 4 |