Robinson R44 N8325X

Summary

On 28 June 2016 at about 03:10 local time, a Robinson R44 registered N8325X, operated by Custom Ag, was involved in an accident near El Centro, California, 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

28 June 2016 at 03:10

Classification

Accident

Location

El Centro, California, United States

Coordinates

32.7522, -115.4650

Aircraft

Robinson R44

Registration

N8325X

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1995

Engines

1

Operator

Custom Ag

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

El Centro → El Centro

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

WPR16LA132

Nobody was injured.

A loss of main rotor rpm and airframe vibration for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information, which resulted in a forced landing to sloping terrain and the helicopter rolling over.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The helicopter pilot was performing an agricultural flight when he felt an airframe vibration, which was followed by the main rotor low rpm warning and a loss of rotor rpm. He reduced collective and the vibration and warning horn stopped. As he began to maneuver for a landing, he increased the collective and leveled the skids and again felt an airframe vibration and noted a loss of rotor rpm. During the landing on sloping terrain, the right front skid toe dug into the soft dirt and the helicopter came to rest on its side, resulting in substantial damage. Examination of the helicopter revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation, and the reason for the vibration and loss of rotor rpm could not be determined based on the available information.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.