Robinson R44 N144DJ

Summary

On 10 July 2018 at about 01:20 local time, a Robinson R44 registered N144DJ, operated by Cedar Ridge Aviation, was involved in an accident near Rulo, Nebraska, 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

10 July 2018 at 01:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Rulo, Nebraska, United States

Coordinates

40.0200, -95.4300

Aircraft

Robinson R44

Registration

N144DJ

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2017

Engines

1

Operator

Cedar Ridge Aviation

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Rulo → Rulo

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

GAA18CA408

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's improper collective application, which resulted in low rotor rpm during the takeoff climb and a subsequent ground collision. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s self-induced pressure to complete the operation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the helicopter pilot, he was performing a night agricultural flight. During takeoff from a platform located on top of the tender, his collective application was too aggressive, and during the ascent, the engine sputtered. The engine rpm and main rotor rpm decreased, and he tried to regain the rpm by lowering the collective. The helicopter was moving forward and descending, so he applied aft cyclic to arrest the forward movement, and he attempted to land. The left skid touched down in the soft dirt, and the pilot applied aft cyclic to prevent a nose-over, but the main rotor blades struck the tailboom. The helicopter rolled forward, and its nose spun left before the helicopter came to rest on its left side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage the fuselage, tail rotor drive system, and skid tubes. The pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented if he had not been in a hurry to complete the operation and that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.