Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II accident near Thompson Falls, MT
On July 27, 2013, a Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Thompson Falls, MT. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- July 27, 2013
- Place
- Thompson Falls, MT
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 47.547°N, 115.520°W
- NTSB ID
- 20130727X31220
Official records · WPR13FA343
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn July 27, 2013, about 1255 mountain daylight time, a Robinson R44 II helicopter, N25WH, was substantially damaged following a loss of control and subsequent impact with terrain near Thompson Falls, Montana. The helicopter was registered to Zoot Helicopter I LLC, of Bozeman, Montana, and operated by Rocky Mountain Rotors, of Belgrade, Montana. The certified commercial pilot received fatal injuries; one passenger sustained serious injuries, and a second passenger suffered minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the aerial survey flight, which was being conducted in accordance with 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed the Polson Airport (8S1), about 2 hours prior to the time of the accident. The intended destination was Thompson Falls. According to the passenger who sustained minor injuries, the purpose of the flight was to photo document the condition of cross-country power lines and their supporting wooden structures. The passenger reported that the pilot occupied the right front seat, his associate, who was operating videotaping equipment, occupied the left front seat, and he occupied the left rear seat taking still photographs. The passenger stated that initially everything was going fine, and that they were about 50 feet from the power lines and about 50 feet above them. However, the helicopter started to rotate in a clockwise orientation, about 4 revolutions prior to impact with terrain. He described the impact attitude of the helicopter as being very steep, nose down, and bank
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain helicopter control while operating in conditions conducive to a loss of tail rotor effectiveness.
More accidents in MT
- Pilatus PC-12/45, Mar 22, 2009
- Beech D18S, Jul 5, 1987
- Cessna 550, Dec 18, 1992
- Beech V35B, Jun 24, 1982
- Cessna 182C, May 12, 2007
Browse: Montana · 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.
