Robinson R44 N74805

Summary

On 26 August 2016 at about 17:45 local time, a Robinson R44 registered N74805 was involved in an accident near Kailua/Kona, Hawaii, United States. 2 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

26 August 2016 at 17:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Kailua/Kona, Hawaii, United States

Nearest airport

Kona International Airport (KOA)

Coordinates

19.7431, -156.0328

Aircraft

Robinson R44

Registration

N74805

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2005

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Kailua/Kona → Kailua/Kona

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR16LA168

Nobody was injured.

An on-ground upset for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the helicopter revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During aninstructional flight in the helicopter, the pilot under instruction set up for anapproach and landing to a flat and smooth gravel road. Once the skids were on the ground, the pilot under instruction lowered the collective toward the FULL DOWN position. The helicopter then began to rock in a fore and aft motion. The flight instructor took the controls as the intensity of the rocking increased; the helicopter then ascended in uncontrollable flight. The flight instructor subsequently landed the helicopter on the gravel road; it came to rest upright about 20 to 30 ft and at a little more than a 45° angle from the initial touchdown point. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. Postaccident examination of the helicopterrevealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Thus, the reason for the reported on-ground upset could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.