Watercraft Lz Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lake Powell, Utah 84741
Tuesady, October 2, 2007 10:00 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated he was distracted during the preflight inspection and neglected to remove the left rear tie-down. During takeoff, the helicopter rolled and came to rest on its left side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotors, tail boom, and cabin.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection and failure to remove a tie-down strap before departure.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/2/2007
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1000
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Lake Powell
Event State UTAH
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 84741
Event Date Year 2007
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 370228N
Event Location Longitude 1111426W
Event Location Airport Watercraft LZ
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NONE
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 953 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID PGA
Elevation of weather observation facility 4316
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.28
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 22602
NTSB Notification Source FAA-ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Nov 29 2007 8:02AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office WP-FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N644BS
NTSB Number SEA08CA002
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Robinson
Aircraft Model R44 II
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 11642
Certified Max Gross Weight 2500
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection May 1 2007 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 155
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Robert C Schwartz
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Key Largo
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 33037
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City Lake Powell
Departure State UT
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1000
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code PGA
Destination City Page
Destination State AZ
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 6 2007 2:48PM
User who most recently changed record COOS
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --