Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II accident near Corona, CA
On November 26, 2012, a Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Corona, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- November 26, 2012
- Place
- Corona, CA
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 33.898°N, 117.603°W
- NTSB ID
- 20121126X75106
Official records · WPR13FA054
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn November 25, 2012, at 2308 Pacific standard time, a Robinson R44 II, N4204A, collided with a fueling structure at Corona Municipal Airport, Corona, California. The pilot/owner was operating the helicopter under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The commercial pilot sustained fatal injuries; the helicopter sustained substantial damage from impact forces and post-crash fire. The cross-country personal flight was departing Corona for Fullerton, California. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. A friend stated that he picked the pilot up at French Valley Airport in Temecula, California, about 1630, and they had attended an event in Temecula. He dropped the pilot back off at the airport about 2200. Witnesses at Corona reported to first responders that they heard the helicopter, and then a bang followed by an explosion. They went outside and observed the helicopter on fire. Fueling records indicated that the pilot added 40.6 gallons of 100LL about 15 minutes before the accident. A review of a security video showed that the helicopter was facing towards a fuel island, and the cabin was partially under a circular metal canopy that covered the island. The helicopter lifted off, and made an immediate pedal turn nose right. Nearing 180 degrees of turn, the helicopter pitched forward; the tail and main rotor blades came up, and contacted the metal canopy. The helicopter then began to flail while turning, and came to rest, after it turned 180 degrees right, back in the original direction. Seve
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance between the helicopter’s main rotor blades and the metal canopy of a fuel island.
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Browse: California · 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.
