Robinson R44 II accident near Easton, WA
On August 2, 2007, a Robinson R44 II (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Easton, WA. 4 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- August 2, 2007
- Place
- Easton, WA
- Aircraft
- Robinson R44 II · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 4 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 47.184°N, 121.242°W
- NTSB ID
- 20070808X01151
Official records · SEA07FA223
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- Image 1. View #1 looking north from logging tower.: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
- Image 2. View #2 looking north from logging tower.: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
- Image 4. View looking south from accident site toward logging tower.: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 2, 2007, about 1420 Pacific daylight time, a Robinson R44 II helicopter, N7531D, was destroyed after impacting mountainous terrain during takeoff about five miles southwest of Easton, Washington. The commercial pilot and three passengers were killed. The helicopter was registered to Comprador Helicopters LLC, of Bellevue, Washington, and operated by Classic Helicopter Corp., of Seattle, Washington. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident for the cross-country charter flight, which was being operated in accordance with 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135. A flight plan was not filed. The flight was originating at the time of the accident, and its destination was Smith Island, Washington. In an interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC), the helicopter operator reported that the purpose of the three-leg cross-country flight was to transport one local businessman and two South Korean businessmen to logging sites to inspect lumber. The first leg of the flight was to be from Boeing Field/King Country International Airport (BFI), Seattle, Washington, to the Barbeu Mill Corporation logging site, located about 5 nautical miles southwest of Easton. The second leg of the flight would be from the Barbeu Mill to Smith Island, located about 130 nautical miles northwest of the accident site, with the third leg being the return flight to BFI. The operator further reported that the flight departed BFI about 1300. In a written statement provided to the IIC by the owner of the logging company, at 1335 he reported observ
Probable cause
The pilot's improper planning/decision in attempting a downwind takeoff under high density altitude conditions that resulted in a loss of control and impact with terrain. Contributing to the accident were the helicopter's gross weight in excess of the maximum hover out of ground effect limit, a high density altitude, and the gusty tailwind.
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Browse: Washington · 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.
