Robinson R44 II N122AA
15 January 2008 · Fenner, New York, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 15 January 2008 at about 17:15 local time, a Robinson R44 II registered N122AA, operated by Adkins Aviation, was involved in an accident near Fenner, New York, United States. 4 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 17:15
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Fenner, New York, United States
- Nearest airport
- Syracuse International Airport (SYR)
- Coordinates
- 42.9978, -75.7869
- Aircraft
- Robinson R44 II
- Registration
- N122AA
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Adkins Aviation
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Business
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Oneonta → Syracuse
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- IMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- NYC08CA083
People
1 person had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
Probable cause
The pilot's delayed decision to perform a precautionary landing. Contributing to the accident was the reduced visibility in snow and the soft terrain.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot of the Robinson R44 II was on the final leg of a visual flight rules (VFR) flight when, about 18 miles from the destination airport, he obtained a special VFR clearance from the approach controller due to snow showers in the area. The clearance was later canceled by the controller due to "saturation," and the pilot was told not to enter the area, which was several miles ahead. The pilot then turned the helicopter around and entered a "near zero/zero whiteout," but during the "tight" turn the attitude indicator "tumbled." The pilot then elected to perform a precautionary landing to a plowed field below. As the helicopter contacted the ground, the skids sunk into the soft terrain, and the aft portion of the tailboom and the skids separated from the fuselage. The weather reported at the destination airport at the time of the accident included 1 1/2 statute miles visibility in light snow and mist.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Robinson R44 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Mar 2008 | Robinson R44 | Montgomery, New York, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 29 Aug 2008 | Robinson R44 II | Ridgedale, Missouri, United States | Central Illinois Air Corp | Fatal | 2 |
| 22 Jan 2008 | Robinson R44 | Ochopee, Florida, United States | Donald S. Mills | Fatal | 2 |
| 15 May 2008 | Robinson R44 II | Lake Wales, Florida, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 6 Sep 2008 | Robinson R44 II | Marathon, Florida, United States | Frezo Financial LLC | No injuries | - |
| 5 Apr 2008 | Robinson R44 | Topeka, Kansas, United States | Topeka Police Department | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Apr 2008 | Cessna 172F | White Plains, New York, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 5 Jul 2008 | Cessna C-195 | Johnstown, New York, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 21 Dec 2008 | Cessna 172 | Corning, New York, United States | Costa Flying Services | No injuries | - |
| 22 Mar 2008 | Aerospatiale AS355F1 | New York, New York, United States | Liberty Helicopters | No injuries | - |
| 16 Oct 2008 | Sikorsky S-76C | New York, New York, United States | Bristol-Myers Squibb Company | No injuries | - |
| 18 Apr 2008 | Aerofab LAKE LA-250 | Skaneateles, New York, United States | Leslie D Woodcock | Fatal | 1 |