Summary
On February 24, 2018, a Robinson Helicopter Company R44 (N630ML) was involved in an accident near Woodland, CA. The accident resulted in 1 minor injury. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The pilot’s distraction due to her malfunctioning iPad, which led to her inadvertent forward cyclic application.
The helicopter pilot reported that during and early morning flight, the visibility was good, but it was still dark.
The helicopter pilot reported that the helicopter climbed to about 300ft above ground level and she noticed that her iPad was not showing her location. While attempting to fix the iPad, she inadvertently pushed the cyclic forward. She reported that when she re-focused her attention outside the helicopter, impact was imminent, and the helicopter impacted trees.
This accident is documented in NTSB report GAA18CA140. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N630ML.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot’s distraction due to her malfunctioning iPad, which led to her inadvertent forward cyclic application.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
The helicopter pilot reported that during and early morning flight, the visibility was good, but it was still dark.
The helicopter pilot reported that the helicopter climbed to about 300ft above ground level and she noticed that her iPad was not showing her location. While attempting to fix the iPad, she inadvertently pushed the cyclic forward. She reported that when she re-focused her attention outside the helicopter, impact was imminent, and the helicopter impacted trees. The helicopter came to rest on its left side facing the opposite direction of travel.
The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and the both rotor systems.
The pilot reported in the Recommendation section of the National Transportation Board Pilot Aircraft Accident Report, that the accident could have been prevented by not allowing herself to become distracted during flight.
The pilots reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# GAA18CA140