Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II accident near Bass Lake, IN
On April 23, 2007, a Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Bass Lake, IN. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- April 23, 2007
- Place
- Bass Lake, IN
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 41.234°N, 86.579°W
- NTSB ID
- 20070430X00482
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On April 22, 2007, at 2031 central daylight time, a Robinson R44 II helicopter, N382BT, owned and piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when it impacted water during approach to a residence on the shore of Bass Lake, Indiana. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and his passenger were fatally injured. The flight departed the Starke County Airport, Knox, Indiana, at 2023 after refueling. Witnesses reported hearing the helicopter approach from the northwest and continuing across the lake toward the pilot's residence. As the helicopter crossed the lake, it was observed to descend steadily towards the water, hover for about 1-2 seconds, then fall vertically from approximately 40-50 feet into the lake. The helicopter impacted the water about 1/4 mile from the intended landing area. PERSONNEL INFORMATION According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records, the pilot of N382BT, age 45, held a private pilot certificate with a rotorcraft-helicopter rating. He was not instrument rated. The pilot's last aviation medical examination was completed on May 23, 2006, when he was issued a third-class medical certificate with no limitations or restrictions. The pilot's most recent flight logbook entry was dated March 30, 2005, after completing the Robinson Helicopter Pilot Safety Course at the factory in Torrance, California. As of this entry, he had accumulated 321.6 hours tot
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain a proper approach glidepath, which resulted in a settling-with-power flight condition. Contributing to the accident was the dark night light condition.
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Browse: Indiana · Robinson aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
