Robinson R44 II N168PT

Summary

On 13 August 2006 at about 15:25 local time, a Robinson R44 II registered N168PT was involved in an accident near Warrenton, Oregon, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

13 August 2006 at 15:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Warrenton, Oregon, United States

Coordinates

46.1089, -123.9853

Aircraft

Robinson R44 II

Registration

N168PT

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Vancouver → Astoria

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA06FA159

3 people died.

The pilot's intentional flight into instrument meteorological conditions while maneuvering which resulted in an in flight collision with terrain/water.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The helicopter descended into the ocean after encountering instrument meteorological conditions. The accident helicopter was one in a flight of two helicopters on a cross-country positioning flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the departure airport; however, the flight crews encountered low ceilings at the destination airport and elected to continue the flight to the west, over water, in an effort to find a break in the overcast. A passenger in the number 2 helicopter (non-accident helicopter) reported the pilots of both helicopters were in continuous contact with one another during the flight and that as the weather conditions deteriorated, the pilot of the number 2 helicopter stated "I'm going to go through it" followed by "stay right behind me." The pilot in the accident helicopter agreed. The witness reported that when the number 2 helicopter entered the fog, the accident helicopter was "behind and above us." The witness stated the pilot in the accident helicopter radioed the pilot of the number 2 helicopter asking, "How fast are you descending?" The pilot stated "very slow." The witness reported that approximately 30 seconds later; the pilot of the number 2 helicopter stated, "Go back up... it's too low. It's much lower than we thought. Go back up right now." Radio contact with the accident helicopter was lost. Approximately 15 minutes later, two orange life vests and miscellaneous wreckage debris were found floating in the water approximately 1 mile offshore. The hourly METAR observation at the destination airport included, a visibility of 5 statute miles in mist, and overcast clouds at 400 feet. Search and rescue personnel reported the weather in the area of the accident was, visibility 1 mile; overcast ceiling at 100 feet and winds from the northwest at 10 knots.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.