Robinson R44 N8375E

Summary

On 22 September 2014 at about 01:00 local time, a Robinson R44 registered N8375E was involved in an accident near Mokuleia, Hawaii, 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

22 September 2014 at 01:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Mokuleia, Hawaii, United States

Nearest airport

Dillingham Field (PHDH)

Coordinates

21.5794, -158.1972

Aircraft

Robinson R44

Registration

N8375E

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1997

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Honolulu → Mokuleia

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR14CA385

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during landing with a quartering tailwind, which resulted in a hard landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

When the helicopter was inbound to the destination airport, one of the two pilots radioed for the wind information, and was provided a wind direction of 310 degrees at a speed of 10 knots by the Unicom operator. The pilot flew a left traffic pattern for runway 8, which according to the flying pilot, was a "normal approach for winds from the northeast." The pilot planned to land on the compass rose painted just north of the threshold of runway 8. The flight and approach were normal through the turn to the base leg. On short final or in the flare, the helicopter began descending too quickly, and the pilots were unable to arrest the descent before the helicopter struck the ground. The helicopter remained upright; the pilots shut down the helicopter and de-boarded the passengers. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail, tail rotor, tail boom, and fuselage. Although both pilots stated that the helicopter experienced a "settling with power" event, neither pilot could recall the reported winds. The flying pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.