Robinson R44 N769RT

Summary

On 8 October 2006 at about 23:00 local time, a Robinson R44 registered N769RT was involved in an accident near Sumner, Washington, United States. 2 people were on board and one died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 October 2006 at 23:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Sumner, Washington, United States

Coordinates

47.2397, -122.1939

Aircraft

Robinson R44

Registration

N769RT

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Sumner → Sumner

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA07FA006

1 person died.

The complete loss of engine power, for undetermined reasons, while on final approach, and the pilot's loss of control of the helicopter after the power loss. Factors include a lake below the final approach to the private landing pad.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

While the pilot was on final approach to a landing pad near his private residence, the helicopter experienced a total loss of engine power while approximately 100 feet above the surface of a lake. The pilot did not apply the proper flight control inputs to maintain a controlled autorotation to the surface of the lake, and therefore the aircraft spun multiple times around its vertical axis while descending to an uncontrolled impact with the water. Immediately after impacting the surface of the lake, the helicopter sank in about 20 feet of water. There was no indication of any mechanical failure or malfunction.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.