Robinson R44 N333DV

Summary

On 20 June 2010 at about 01:00 local time, a Robinson R44 registered N333DV, operated by Bering Pacific Ranches Ltd, was involved in an accident near Unalaska, Alaska, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

20 June 2010 at 01:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Unalaska, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

53.4564, -167.8722

Aircraft

Robinson R44

Registration

N333DV

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Bering Pacific Ranches Ltd

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unalaska → Unalaska

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC10LA053

1 person died.

The pilot's inappropriate low altitude maneuvering, which resulted in a collision with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

A ranch employee reported that he and another employee were onboard the helicopter with the pilot when they spotted a bull that had become entangled in plastic wrapping material. Both employees egressed the helicopter in an effort to try to cut the plastic off the animal. The pilot maneuvered the helicopter in an attempt to herd the bull toward them with no success. The pilot then attempted to land the helicopter on a portion of the plastic that was trailing behind the bull, which would aid the employees in being able to approach it. After that was unsuccessful, the pilot tried to knock the bull down with the helicopter. The pilot eventually managed to maneuver the helicopter's right skid under the plastic and began to elevate the bull. As the helicopter moved forward, it moved to the right and impacted the ground, killing the pilot and the bull.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.