Robinson R44 N511CC

Summary

On 20 April 2018 at about 00:00 local time, a Robinson R44 registered N511CC was involved in an accident near Fairbanks, Alaska, 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

20 April 2018 at 00:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Fairbanks, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

Chena Marina (AK28)

Coordinates

64.8139, -147.9220

Aircraft

Robinson R44

Registration

N511CC

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2003

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Fairbanks → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC18LA032

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain helicopter control while in a hovering turn, which resulted in a collision with obstacles.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was preparing to depart from an asphalt pad at a private airport for a personal flight. The pilot reported that, after he brought the helicopter to hover and proceeded to turn the helicopter while positioned over the pad, a gust of wind "pushed" the helicopter into a snowbank and trees. The helicopter sustained substantial damage. A review of weather information just before and after the time of the accident reported no wind gust conditions and indicated that wind was from 330° at 11 kts before the accident and from 340° at 12 kts after the accident. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. Analysis of postaccident measurements revealed that there was suitable clearance for the helicopter to conduct a hovering turn from where the helicopter was positioned over the pad to the snowbank and trees. It is likely the pilot failed to maintain his position over his reference point during the hovering turn along with not compensating for the wind conditions, which resulted in a loss of control in flight and impact with the snowbank and trees.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.