Robinson R44 II N44NV

Summary

On 3 February 2008 at about 02:00 local time, a Robinson R44 II registered N44NV was involved in an accident near Bullhead City, Arizona, United States. 2 people were 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

3 February 2008 at 02:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Bullhead City, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Laughlin/Bullhead Internationa (IFP)

Coordinates

35.1572, -114.5594

Aircraft

Robinson R44 II

Registration

N44NV

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Henderson → Bullhead City

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

LAX08CA057

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's misjudged landing flare, inadequate bounced landing recovery, and failure to maintain directional control during a bounced landing that resulted in the tail rotor blades colliding with a hangar. Contributing to the accident was the burned out landing lights.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that during the night flight, and prior to landing, he discovered that both landing lights were burned out. During the landing, the nose of the right skid contacted the ground and the helicopter bounced back into the air and rotated to the right resulting in the tail rotor striking a hangar. The helicopter rotated about 360 degrees before impacting the ground. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail rotor gearbox attachment point. The pilot reported no other abnormalities with the helicopter prior to the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.