N957R

Substantial
None

ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 IIS/N: 10598

Accident Details

Date
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
NTSB Number
CEN12CA643
Location
Slaton, TX
Event ID
20120919X01248
Coordinates
33.485279, -101.661666
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 misalignment of the helicopter during landing, which resulted in the helicopter’s fall from a raised platform.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N957R
Make
ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY
Serial Number
10598
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Year Built
2005
Model / ICAO
R44 IIR44
Aircraft Type
Rotorcraft
No. of Engines
1

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
G B AERIAL APPLICATIONS INC
Address
4601 50TH ST STE 101
Status
Deregistered
City
LUBBOCK
State / Zip Code
TX 79414-3514
Country
United States

Analysis

After a local flight, the pilot positioned the helicopter onto its platform trailer. The helicopter’s left skid touched down on the metal surface and the pilot then lowered the right skid to the platform. The helicopter started to slip off the platform, so the pilot raised the collective to correct the problem. However, the helicopter fell to the left, the main rotor impacted the ground, and the tail boom was severed. The helicopter came to rest on the skids: the fuel tank was compromised and a post-crash fire consumed a majority of the 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# CEN12CA643