N555FP

Substantial
None

ROBINSON R44S/N: 1012

Accident Details

Date
Thursday, March 17, 2011
NTSB Number
ERA11CA194
Location
Petersburg, WV
Event ID
20110320X90821
Coordinates
38.990276, -79.140830
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
1
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot's failure to maintain control during the takeoff.

Aircraft Information

Registration
Make
ROBINSON
Serial Number
1012
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Year Built
2001
Model / ICAO
R44R44
Aircraft Type
Rotorcraft
No. of Engines
1
Seats
4
FAA Model
R44

Registered Owner (Current)

Name
ROTORPRO LLC
Address
368 ALDER BRANCH RD
City
SEVIERVILLE
State / Zip Code
TN 37876-0520
Country
United States

Analysis

The pilot of the helicopter stated that he was preparing to lift off into a hover position in order to depart the airport. As he raised the collective, the helicopter became light on the skids, and rolled to the right and then to the left. The main rotor blades struck the ground, and the helicopter sustained substantial damage to the horizontal stabilizer and tail boom. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the helicopter. He further reported 315 hours of total flight experience, which included 51 hours in helicopters, all in the same make and model as the accident helicopter.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ERA11CA194