Robinson R44 N8348X

Summary

On 5 April 2021 at about 22:00 local time, a Robinson R44 registered N8348X, operated by Seger Robert E, was involved in an accident near Johnson, Kansas, United States. 2 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

5 April 2021 at 22:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Johnson, Kansas, United States

Coordinates

37.6672, -101.9880

Aircraft

Robinson R44

Registration

N8348X

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1997

Engines

1

Operator

Seger Robert E

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN21LA184

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's inadequate pedal application during a transition to hover, 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 was flying over his wheat fields as the wind was from the south at 10 knots. The pilot transitioned to a hover close to the ground and experienced a sudden unanticipated yaw to the left. The helicopter completed more than one full rotation to the left, then landed hard in the field and sustained substantial damage to the main rotor blades and fuselage. Examination of the helicopter and flight control system did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. 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.” Given that the postaccident examination of the helicopter did not reveal any preimpact anomalies and the 10-knot wind at the time of the accident, it is likely that the pilot did not apply adequate pedal input to avoid the loss of yaw control while transitioning to a hover.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.