Individually Owned: 150,657
Corporate Owned: 137,281
N/A Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report
Clayton, New Mexico 88415
Monday, August 26, 2013 15:25 MDT
NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident
The pilot reported that 25-30 minutes into the aerial photography flight, the helicopter began to settle (descend under power) while established in a left turn from an easterly heading about 100 feet above the ground. The pilot increased collective control, but the helicopter continued to descend as it approached two sets of power lines. He stated that with full engine power, the helicopter was able to clear both sets of power lines; however, the low rotor speed warning horn sounded as the helicopter crossed over the second set of power lines. The pilot briefly reduced the collective control to regain rotor speed, but, as the helicopter approached the ground, he increased collective control in another attempt to arrest the descent. The pilot stated that the helicopter impacted terrain in a manner similar to a hard landing, bounced, and rolled over onto its left side. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
In his statement, the pilot indicated the likelihood that the helicopter's encounter with a southerly wind gust during the left turn from an easterly heading sufficiently reduced the amount of available lift from the main rotor to allow the helicopter to descend with full engine power and collective control. A nearby weather station reported gusty wind conditions from the south, with peak speeds of 32 knots. A southerly wind gust during a left turn from an easterly heading would have resulted in a tailwind condition and an associated loss of available lift from the main rotor. The pilot estimated the helicopter's weight at the time of the accident was about 9 pounds below the helicopter's certificated maximum gross weight. The pilot's maneuvering of the helicopter at a low altitude, while at nearly maximum gross weight, reduced his ability to regain vertical control before the helicopter encountered the power lines and terrain.
NTSB Probable Cause Narrative
The pilot's loss of vertical control after the helicopter encountered a gusty tailwind while maneuvering at a low altitude and near the helicopter's maximum gross weight.
Event Information
| Type of Event | Accident |
| Event Date | 8/26/2013 |
| Event Day of the Week | Monday |
| Time of Event | 1525 |
| Event Time Zone | Mountain Daylight Time |
| Event City | Clayton |
| Event State | NEW MEXICO |
| Event Country | -- |
| Zipcode of the event site | 88415 |
| Event Date Year | 2013 |
| Event Date Month | 8 |
| MidAir Collision Indicator | No |
| On Ground Collision occurred ? | No |
| Event Location Latitude | 363551N |
| Event Location Longitude | 1031629W |
| Event Location Airport | N/A |
| Event Location Nearest Airport ID | -- |
| Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport | Off Airport/Airstrip |
| Distance from airport in statute miles | -- |
| Degrees magnetic from airport | -- |
| Airport Elevation | -- |
| Weather Briefing Completeness | -- |
| Investigator's weather source | Weather Observation Facility |
| Time of the weather observation | 1555 Mountain Daylight Time |
| Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) | 180 |
| Weather Observation Facility ID | KCAO |
| Elevation of weather observation facility | 4964 |
| Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) | 12 |
| Time Zone of the weather observation | MDT |
| Lighting Conditions | Day |
| Lowest Ceiling Height | 8000 |
| Lowest Non-Ceiling Height | -- |
| Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions | -- |
| Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling | Broken |
| Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) | -- |
| Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) | -- |
| Visibility (Statute Miles) | 10 |
| Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) | 31 |
| Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) | 11 |
| Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) | 160 |
| Variable Wind Indicator | Wind direction could be determined |
| Wind Speed (knots) | 17 |
| Wind Velocity Indicator | -- |
| Wind Gust Indicator | Gusting |
| Wind Gust (knots) | 32 |
| Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) | 30.22 |
| Density Altitude (feet) | -- |
| Intensity of Precipitation | -- |
| METAR weather report | METAR KCAO 262155Z AUTO 16017G32KT 10SM BKN080 31/ |
| Event Highest Injury | Minor |
| On Ground, Fatal Injuries | -- |
| On Ground, Minor Injuries | -- |
| On Ground, Serious Injuries | -- |
| Injury Total Fatal | -- |
| Injury Total Minor | 3 |
| Injury Total None | 1 |
| Injury Total Serious | -- |
| Injury Total All | 3 |
| Investigating Agency | NTSB |
| NTSB Docket Number (internal use) | 31893 |
| NTSB Notification Source | Central Region Duty Officer, P |
| NTSB Notification Date | -- |
| NTSB Notification Time | -- |
| Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Sep 15 2013 7:52PM |
| User who most recently changed record | foxt |
| Basic weather conditions | Visual Meteorological Cond |
| FAA District Office | -- |
Aircraft Involved |
|
|---|---|
Aircraft #1 |
|
| Aircraft Registration Number | N744KA |
| NTSB Number | CEN13LA507 |
| 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 Helicopter Company |
| Aircraft Model | R44 II |
| Aircraft Series Identifier | -- |
| Aircraft Serial Number | 13168 |
| Certified Max Gross Weight | 2400 |
| 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 | Annual |
| Date of Last Inspection | Aug 6 2012 12:00AM |
| Airframe hours since last inspection | 129 |
| Airframe Hours | 129 |
| ELT Installed | Yes |
| ELT Activated | No |
| ELT Aided Location of Event Site | No |
| ELT Type | C126 |
| Aircraft Owner Name | King Ag Leasing |
| Aircraft Owner Street Address | -- |
| Aircraft Owner City | Sudan |
| Aircraft Owner State | TX |
| Aircraft Owner Country | USA |
| Aircraft Owner Zipcode | 79371 |
| Operator is an individual? | No |
| Operator Name | King Ag Leasing |
| Operator Same as Owner? | Yes |
| Operator Is Doing Business As | -- |
| Operator Address Same as Owner? | Yes |
| Operator Street Address | -- |
| Operator City | Sudan |
| Operator State | TX |
| Operator Country | USA |
| Operator Zip code | 79371 |
| Operator Code | -- |
| Owner has at least one certificate | None |
| Other Operator of large aircraft? | No |
| 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 | No |
| Departure Airport Code | KCAO |
| Departure City | Clayton |
| Departure State | NM |
| Departure Country | USA |
| Departure Time | 1450 |
| Departure Time Zone | MDT |
| Destination Same as Local Flt | dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere |
| Destination Airport Code | KCAO |
| Destination City | Clayton |
| Destination State | NM |
| Destination Country | USA |
| Specific Phase of Flight | -- |
| Report sent to ICAO? | -- |
| Evacuation occurred | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Sep 15 2013 7:52PM |
| User who most recently changed record | foxt |
| Since inspection or accident | Last Inspection |
| Event Location Runway Number and Location | N/A |
| Runway Length | -- |
| Runway Width | -- |
| Sight Seeing flight | No |
| Air Medical Flight | No |
| Medical Flight | -- |