Robinson Helicopter R44 accident near Forkston, PA
On April 23, 2021, a Robinson Helicopter R44 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Forkston, PA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- April 23, 2021
- Place
- Forkston, PA
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter R44 · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 41.489°N, 76.184°W
- NTSB ID
- 20210423102968
Official records · ERA21LA191
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- Excerpts - FAA Accident Package (ATC): Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn April 22, 2021, about 2104 eastern daylight time, a Robinson Helicopter R44, N4055N, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Forkston, Pennsylvania. The pilot was fatally injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to radar track data from the Federal Aviation Administration, the pilot took off from Allentown Queen City Municipal Airport (XLL), Allentown, Pennsylvania about 2010. He contacted Allentown approach control at 2011 and requested VFR flight-following to Bradford County Airport (N27), Towanda, Pennsylvania. After departure, the helicopter proceeded to the northwest, climbing to a cruise altitude between 3,000 and 4,000 ft above mean sea level (msl), remaining closer to 3,000 ft msl for most of the flight. At 2028, Allentown approach directed the pilot to contact Wilkes-Barre (AVP) approach. The pilot checked in with AVP approach and was issued the local altimeter setting. Shortly after passing Kasson Brook, Pennsylvania, the helicopter made a slight right turn, then entered a right, descending spiral until radar contact was lost about 2104 (see figure 1). The last recorded radar location was near the accident site location. No distress calls were received from the pilot prior to the accident. Figure 1 - Helicopter's flight track during the final moments of the flight. The pilot’s widow was interviewed after the accident. She reported that her husband purchased the helicopter about 1 year prior to the accident. He used the helicopter to commute to work at the ho
Probable cause
The pilot’s inadequate preflight weather planning, which resulted in an inadvertent encounter with instrument meteorological conditions at night, spatial disorientation, and collision with terrain.
More accidents in PA
- Boeing B-737-300, Sep 8, 1994
- Boeing 757, Sep 11, 2001
- British Aerospace J-3101, May 21, 2000
- Bell UH-1N, May 29, 2008
- Beech A36, Jul 30, 1989
Browse: Pennsylvania · 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.
