Robinson R44 N99645

Summary

On 30 August 2018 at about 01:00 local time, a Robinson R44 registered N99645, operated by Alpine Air Alaska Inc, was involved in an accident near Girdwood, Alaska, United States. 3 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

30 August 2018 at 01:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Girdwood, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

60.2844, -152.4533

Aircraft

Robinson R44

Registration

N99645

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2013

Engines

1

Operator

Alpine Air Alaska Inc

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Drift River → Drift River

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA18CA534

Nobody was injured.

The fisherman's fishing rod striking the helicopter’s rotating main rotor disk during loading. 

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, while "hot loading" the second set of fishermen onto the helicopter, a fishing rod struck a main rotor disc. The pilot added that he heard a "small tick," but that, as he hovered the helicopter, he felt no unusual indications through the flight controls. During examination of the helicopter after shutdown, the pilot found damage to the main rotor blade, and based on the manufacturer's main rotor blade damage guidance, he determined that the main rotor blade was beyond repair limits. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.