Robinson R44 N3264U

Summary

On 20 December 2020 at about 22:45 local time, a Robinson R44 registered N3264U was involved in an accident near Morris, Illinois, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

20 December 2020 at 22:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Morris, Illinois, United States

Nearest airport

Morris Muni - James R Washburn (C09)

Coordinates

41.4287, -88.4208

Aircraft

Robinson R44

Registration

N3264U

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2007

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN21LA095

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's inadequate pedal application during liftoff with a tailwind, which resulted in a loss of yaw control and a subsequent impact with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that he had initially completed pickups and set downs on four different headings, then departed the area for a local flight. When he returned to the airport, he again practiced pickups and set downs in the same spot on the ramp, and the wind was from the west as he completed these maneuvers. During the final maneuver, the wind shifted, and he lost control of the helicopter. There were three weather observations recorded from around the accident time and the wind was from 240° to 250° at 6 to 7 knots, with no reported gusts. An airport surveillance video showed that during accident sequence, the helicopter was facing east when it briefly touched down and wobbled, then lifted up as the tail boom swung around in a clockwise direction. The tail rotor impacted the ramp then climbed and continued to rotate. The helicopter completed about 1.5 rotations as it descended and impacted the ground and rolled onto its right side. The helicopter manufacturer had previously issued a safety notice for unanticipated yaw, which stated in part, “A pilot's failure to apply proper pedal inputs in response to strong or gusty winds during hover or low-speed flight may result in an unanticipated yaw…To avoid unanticipated yaw, pilots should be aware of conditions (a left crosswind, for example) that may require large or rapid pedal inputs.” The accident is consistent with the inadequate pedal application during the liftoff with a tailwind, which resulted in a loss of yaw control and a subsequent impact with terrain. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.