Robinson R44 II N47GT

Summary

On 25 May 2009 at about 15:47 local time, a Robinson R44 II registered N47GT, operated by Glenn L. Tonnesen, was involved in an accident near Meredith, New Hampshire, United States. 4 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

25 May 2009 at 15:47

Classification

Accident

Location

Meredith, New Hampshire, United States

Nearest airport

Laconia Municipal Airport (KLCI)

Coordinates

43.5731, -71.4178

Aircraft

Robinson R44 II

Registration

N47GT

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Glenn L. Tonnesen

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Meredith → Meredith

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA09CA337

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain control during landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that with three passengers, he departed from a dock on his property to conduct a local flight. After 1 hour, he returned to the same dock for landing. The approach was normal, but when the pilot came to a 2- to 3-foot hover above the dock the helicopter “dropped violently onto its skids.” The helicopter then began sliding backward with the tail down towards the water. He applied power in an attempt to bring the helicopter to a hover, but it rolled onto its left side and slid rearward into the water. The rotor, airframe, transmission, engine, and avionics incurred damage. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical abnormalities present with the helicopter prior to the flight, or the accident sequence.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.