Robinson R44 N99FJ

Summary

On 26 August 2011 at about 12:00 local time, a Robinson R44 registered N99FJ was involved in an accident near Batesville, Texas, 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.

Date

26 August 2011 at 12:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Batesville, Texas, United States

Coordinates

28.9783, -99.5631

Aircraft

Robinson R44

Registration

N99FJ

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Batesville → Batesville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN11CA627

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection that failed to ensure all tie-down clamps were removed prior to takeoff, which resulted in the helicopter’s dynamic rollover.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, the helicopter was positioned on a trailer with clamps and blade holders. He stated that, during the preflight inspection, he forgot to remove the clamp that held the left skid to the trailer. During takeoff, the tie-down clamp did not give way and the helicopter experienced a dynamic rollover. The helicopter rolled to the left and impacted the ground, where it sustained structural damage.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.