Robinson R44 N447PA

Summary

On 6 September 2019 at about 21:50 local time, a Robinson R44 registered N447PA, operated by Pollux Aviation Ltd, was involved in an accident near Nuiqsut, 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

6 September 2019 at 21:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Nuiqsut, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

Nuiqsut (AQT)

Coordinates

63.8886, -160.7992

Aircraft

Robinson R44

Registration

N447PA

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2006

Engines

1

Operator

Pollux Aviation Ltd

Operating rule

Part 133: Rotorcraft Ext. Load

Purpose of flight

External Load

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Deadhorse → Deadhorse

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA19CA531

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's improper decision to land downwind from unsecured debris, which resulted in the helicopter’s main rotor disk ingesting foreign objects.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he landed the helicopter facing south and about 90 ft from where ground personnel were unhooking super sacks filled with gravel. When the skids touched down, the pilot reduced the collective and then saw an empty super sack about 15 ft away, which subsequently struck the main rotor toward the outboard portion of the blade. The super sack was ingested by the advancing side of the main rotor disk. The pilot rolled off the throttle and shut down the engine. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor blades. 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.