Robinson R44 N3027Y
17 March 2008 · Montgomery, New York, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 17 March 2008 at about 18:00 local time, a Robinson R44 registered N3027Y was involved in an accident near Montgomery, New York, 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.
The record
- Date
- at 18:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Montgomery, New York, United States
- Nearest airport
- Orange County Airport (MGJ)
- Coordinates
- 41.5097, -74.2644
- Aircraft
- Robinson R44
- Registration
- N3027Y
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Montgomery → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- NYC08CA140
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
The pilot's loss of control during takeoff.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
According to the student pilot, he conducted a training flight with a flight instructor, in the R44 helicopter, and then prepared for a solo flight in anticipation of his upcoming private pilot check ride. During liftoff, he began to correct for an anticipated "tail low" condition due to full fuel and only one person on board, by using "light" forward cyclic. The helicopter drifted forward toward fuel pumps and a light post, and the pilot "over controlled" the helicopter by moving the cyclic aft. The pilot stated that he reacted "a little late," and drifted too close to the post. The main rotor struck the post, the fuselage spun, and the tail of the helicopter impacted the ground, before the helicopter came to rest on its skids.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Robinson R44 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Aug 2008 | Robinson R44 II | Ridgedale, Missouri, United States | Central Illinois Air Corp | Fatal | 2 |
| 15 Jan 2008 | Robinson R44 II | Fenner, New York, United States | Adkins Aviation | Minor injuries | - |
| 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 |