Robinson R-44 N454WT

Summary

On 23 July 2006 at about 19:00 local time, a Robinson R-44 registered N454WT was involved in an accident near Wadsworth, Illinois, 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.

Date

23 July 2006 at 19:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Wadsworth, Illinois, United States

Coordinates

42.4222, -87.8678

Aircraft

Robinson R-44

Registration

N454WT

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Kenosha → Wadsworth

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI06CA214

Nobody was injured.

The pilot inadvertently pulled back on the cyclic when birds flew into the windscreen. A factor associated with the accident were the birds.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that the tail rotor contacted water during landing. The pilot reported that he was landing near a "decorative pond" at a country club when the accident occurred. He said that he flew over the landing area and did not notice any obstructions. He reported that unknown to him at the time, there were ducks along the bank of the pond. The ducks flew up into the windscreen at which time he pulled back on the cyclic and the tail rotor contacted the water. The pilot reported that he then entered an autorotation, touching down on the bank of the pond.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.