Robinson R-44 II N7530F

Summary

On 26 October 2012 at about 18:30 local time, a Robinson R-44 II registered N7530F, operated by Erickson Logging, was involved in an accident near Toutle, Washington, 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 October 2012 at 18:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Toutle, Washington, United States

Coordinates

46.3128, -122.2664

Aircraft

Robinson R-44 II

Registration

N7530F

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2004

Engines

1

Operator

Erickson Logging

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Toutle → Toutle

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR13LA023

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain precise altitude control, which resulted in the helicopter entering a settling with power condition while hovering out of ground effect.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot said that he was using a long line to lift harvested evergreen tree boughs from his property on the side of a mountain. The helicopter was hovering out of ground effect, and he was looking outside at ground personnel when the flight controls began to feel "mushy." The pilot stated that the helicopter began "settling with power" and descending. He attempted to turn and fly more directly into the wind but then he heard the low rotor rpm horn. He entered an autorotation to an open area, but, on touchdown, the steep sloping terrain caused the helicopter to slide into trees and come to rest on its right side. The helicopter was hovering out of ground effect, which created a situation conducive to entering a settling with power (vortex ring state) condition, and the pilot needed to maintain precise altitude control to prevent the condition from developing. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.