Summary
On June 09, 2019, a Robinson R44 (N724H) was involved in an incident near Lebanon, MO. All 4 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot's loss of yaw control and failure to maintain a proper descent rate and his subsequent improper use of the collective instead of the antitorque pedals to correct the yaw, which resulted in a hard landing.
The helicopter pilot reported that, during a vertical decent into a privately-owned field surrounded by trees and two buildings, about 20 feet about the ground, the helicopter yawed to the right. He then lowered the collective and the helicopter continued to yaw to the right, descended and landed hard on the field.
The helicopter manufacturer reported that the helicopter sustained substantial damage to the cabin assembly.
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
The pilot added that he mistook the right yaw for the loss of tail rotor effectiveness and should have instead applied pedal corrections.
This incident is documented in NTSB report GAA19CA476. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N724H.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's loss of yaw control and failure to maintain a proper descent rate and his subsequent improper use of the collective instead of the antitorque pedals to correct the yaw, which resulted in a hard landing.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
The helicopter pilot reported that, during a vertical decent into a privately-owned field surrounded by trees and two buildings, about 20 feet about the ground, the helicopter yawed to the right. He then lowered the collective and the helicopter continued to yaw to the right, descended and landed hard on the field.
The helicopter manufacturer reported that the helicopter sustained substantial damage to the cabin assembly.
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
The pilot added that he mistook the right yaw for the loss of tail rotor effectiveness and should have instead applied pedal corrections.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# GAA19CA476