Robinson R44 II N462BA

Summary

On 1 April 2023 at about 15:23 local time, a Robinson R44 II registered N462BA, operated by Elkhorn Aviation Inc, was involved in an accident near Elko, Nevada, 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

1 April 2023 at 15:23

Classification

Accident

Location

Elko, Nevada, United States

Coordinates

40.8250, -115.7913

Aircraft

Robinson R44 II

Registration

N462BA

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2008

Engines

1

Operator

Elkhorn Aviation Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Elko → Elko

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR23LA145

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain sufficient altitude and airspeed in gusting tailwind conditions that resulted in an unrecoverable descent and impact with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The purpose of the flight was aerial animal control. The pilot reported that while flying at about 30kts and 50 ft above the ground and during a sweeping turn to avoid the effects of an estimated 30 kt tailwind at low altitude, a strong wind gust occurred in the path of the tailwind, which led to an uncontrolled descent rate. Unable to arrest the descent rate, the pilot executed a run-on landing. Environmental conditions weakened the pilot’s depth perception, which resulted in a tail strike that sheared off the tail boom. The main rotor blades contacted the ground and the helicopter rolled on its side, substantially damaging the fuselage and tail boom. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.