ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 226012
This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.
| Date: | Saturday 8 June 2019 |
| Time: | 11:59 LT |
| Type: |  Robinson R44 Raven II |
| Owner/operator: | Scott Aviation |
| Registration: | N4504L |
| MSN: | 13084 |
| Year of manufacture: | 2011 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 1809 hours |
| Engine model: | Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | near Byers, Adams County, CO -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) |
| Nature: | Agricultural |
| Departure airport: | Last Chance, CO |
| Last Chance, CO | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The helicopter pilot was performing an agricultural application flight. He approached the field from the east and completed a survey of the area that he intended to spray about 100 ft above ground level (agl). After maneuvering around the area, he decided to complete the east-west spray passes on the south side of the field and work north in order to have a crosswind during the passes. While flying east about 100 ft and 50 knots, he initiated a right turn, and the helicopter descended. As the helicopter continued the right turn and passed through a southwest heading, the gusting wind from the northeast resulted in a tailwind condition. During the descent with full throttle applied, the main rotor rpm began to decrease. The pilot lowered the collective and pitched forward to gain airspeed, but the main rotor rpm continued to decrease. About 50 ft agl, he started to jettison the spray load and was unable to increase the rotor rpm; the helicopter subsequently impacted the ground and came to rest on its side resulting in substantial damage to the tailboom. A postaccident examination of the helicopter did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
The circumstances of the accident are consistent with a loss of main rotor rpm while descending with a tailwind, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent into terrain.
Probable Cause: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate main rotor rpm while descending with a tailwind during an aerial application maneuver, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent into terrain.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB CEN19LA162
Location
Images:
Photo: FAA
Media:
A couple of shots from the helicopter crash today. pic.twitter.com/3rUxdFTLXk
— Adams Sheriff\'s Page (@AdamsCoSheriff) June 8, 2019
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 10-Jun-2019 07:06 | gerard57 | Added |
| 10-Jun-2019 09:00 | RobertMB | Updated [Aircraft type, Operator, Location, Source] |
| 10-Jun-2019 17:32 | Aerossurance | Updated [Embed code, Narrative] |
| 10-Jun-2019 21:43 | RobertMB | Updated [Time, Registration, Cn, Source, Embed code, Narrative] |
| 27-Mar-2021 20:15 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Other fatalities, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Embed code, Damage, Narrative, Category, Accident report] |
| 27-Mar-2021 20:26 | harro | Updated [Source, Embed code, Narrative, Photo] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2024 Flight Safety Foundation