Robinson R-44 accident near Gallatin, TN
On November 3, 2008, a Robinson R-44 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Gallatin, TN. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- November 3, 2008
- Place
- Gallatin, TN
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-44 · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 36.336°N, 86.438°W
- NTSB ID
- 20081104X60811
Official records · ERA09FA036
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On November 2, 2008, about 1812 central standard time, a Robinson R-44 helicopter, N300FX, registered to a private individual, was substantially damaged when it impacted a river in Gallatin, Tennessee. The certificated private pilot was killed. The solo instructional flight was operated by Noble Aviation LLC., under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, and no flight plan was filed. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight departed Lebanon Municipal Airport (M54), Lebanon, Tennessee, at 1800, enroute to Cornelia Fort Airpark (M88). According to witnesses in the local area, about 1810, they heard the helicopter in the immediate area. They stated that they believed that it crashed in the Cumberland River just west of the State Road (SR) 109 bridge. One witness stated that he heard two distinctive "Wap Wap" sounds, then nothing. Another witness stated that she heard a "metal to metal" sound, then the impact. She believed that something had hit her metal boat dock. However, examination of the boat dock revealed no damage. Radar data indicated that the helicopter flew to the river, then flew to mid channel, and followed the river’s path as it turned to the left. The helicopter then crossed over the SR 109 bridge and disappeared. No altitude readouts were associated with the radar data. The pilot was located and recovered on November 11, 2008; the main wreckage was located on November 16, 2008, and recovered on November 18, 2008. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot, age 43, held a private pilot cert
Probable cause
The pilot's inadvertent descent into water as a result of the dark night and limited outside visual references.
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Browse: Tennessee · 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.
