Robinson R44 II N7531D

Summary

On 2 August 2007 at about 21:20 local time, a Robinson R44 II registered N7531D, operated by Classic Helicopter Corp, was involved in an accident near Easton, Washington, United States. 4 people were on board and 4 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

2 August 2007 at 21:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Easton, Washington, United States

Coordinates

47.1844, -121.2419

Aircraft

Robinson R44 II

Registration

N7531D

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Classic Helicopter Corp

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Easton → Smith Island

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA07FA223

4 people died.

The pilot's improper planning/decision in attempting a downwind takeoff under high density altitude conditions that resulted in a loss of control and impact with terrain. Contributing to the accident were the helicopter's gross weight in excess of the maximum hover out of ground effect limit, a high density altitude, and the gusty tailwind.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The helicopter was departing from a clear cut area in forested mountainous terrain at an elevation of 4,961 feet. A witness observed the helicopter lift off vertically, oriented in a southerly direction, to an altitude of about 40 feet before turning 90 degrees to the left and proceeding down the hillside to the east. The helicopter then began to sway back and forth after traveling about 100 to 150 feet, then it impacted the ground in a nose low, left bank attitude. The witness stated that the wind was switching around during the morning, and that it was blowing down slope toward the east at the time of the accident. The closest weather reporting facility, which was located 8 miles west of the accident site, reported winds gusting out of the west to 16 knots. No evidence of any preimpact anomalies were found during the post accident examination that would have precluded normal operation. During the accident flight the helicopter was being operated 77 pounds over the maximum gross weight for an Out of Ground Effect hover for the existing conditions. The helicopter was being operated in a high density altitude environment, which was computed to be 6,841 feet mean sea level.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.