Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II accident near Rising Sun, IN
On July 9, 2011, a Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Rising Sun, IN. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- July 9, 2011
- Place
- Rising Sun, IN
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 38.916°N, 84.885°W
- NTSB ID
- 20110710X23251
Official records · CEN11FA468
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- ATC 3 - Factual Report of Group Chairman: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
- ATC 3 - CVG TRACON Post-Accident Training Briefing: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
- ATC 3 - CVG Daily Record of Facility Operation: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn July 9, 2011, about 0927 eastern daylight time, a Robinson R44 II, N42333, sustained substantial damage when it impacted trees and terrain near Rising Sun, Indiana. The pilot was fatally injured. The helicopter was owned and operated by the pilot as a personal flight under the provisions of the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight departed from the Georgetown Scott County Airport (27K), Georgetown, Kentucky, about 0900, and was en route to the Anderson Municipal Airport (AID), Anderson, Indiana. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was filed. The pilot contacted the Cincinnati (CVG) approach control about 0911 requesting clearance through the CVG class B airspace with visual flight rules (VFR) radar service to AID. The controller instructed the pilot to squawk code 0432, and about 0912 advised the pilot of radar contact 25 miles south of CVG. The pilot stated that he was proceeding direct to AID on a course of 339 degrees. About 0919, the pilot reported that he needed to descend because, "…I'm getting into too many clouds." The controller approved the VFR descent, and instructed the pilot to maintain VFR at or below 2,000 feet. According to recorded radar data, the last target for the helicopter was seen about 0924. The controller advised the pilot, "…radar services lost" about 0925. About 0929, a commercial airliner advised the CVG approach control that he was receiving a, "…beacon on guard." (Emergency frequency 121.5 is also referred to as "guard" frequency) Radar track data indicated tha
Probable cause
The noninstrument-rated pilot's decision to continue the visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in his spatial disorientation and failure to maintain clearance from terrain.
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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.
