Individually Owned: 151,845
Corporate Owned: 143,699
John C Tune Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report
Nashville, Tennessee 37209
Tuesady, June 24, 2014 12:35 CDT
NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident
On June 24, 2014, about 1235 central daylight time, a Robinson R44 II, N544BS, operated by a private individual, was substantially damaged during an autorotation near Nashville, Tennessee. The commercial pilot and his passenger were uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The local flight originated from John C. Tune Airport (JWN) Nashville, Tennessee at 1235.
According to the pilot, during a cross county flight from Florida to Wisconsin he made a fuel stop at JWN. After departing the airport ramp the pilot turned left and flew north towards a group of broadcast towers. About 1.5 nautical miles from the airport and about 400 feet above ground level, the pilot initiated a climb to clear a hill covered by tall trees. The helicopter was flying at about 70 knots. The pilot heard "what seemed to be a backfire", then the engine started to run "very rough", which was followed by an abrupt loss of altitude. He lowered the collective and the low rotor rpm horn activated and the low rotor rpm light illuminated. The pilot then turned to the west and initiated an autorotation. He glanced at the engine/rotor rpm gauge and noticed the engine was running about 70% rpm and the rotor rpm was in the green. The engine continued to run rough. While searching for a suitable landing site, the pilot observed light traffic on a nearby 5 lane highway. Flying at about 60 knots with 100% rotor rpm, the pilot descended the helicopter towards the highway. The helicopter passed over 2 semi-trucks, and the pilot pulled collective to about 90% rotor rpm to clear wires. He then retarded the throttle and initiated a full down autorotation. During landing the helicopter dropped from about "3 ft.", landed in a level attitude, and the main rotor contacted the tail boom.
The wreckage was retained by the NTSB for further examination.
NTSB Probable Cause Narrative
Not Yet Reported
Event Information
| Type of Event | Accident |
| Event Date | 6/24/2014 |
| Event Day of the Week | Tuesday |
| Time of Event | 1235 |
| Event Time Zone | Central Daylight Time |
| Event City | Nashville |
| Event State | TENNESSEE |
| Event Country | -- |
| Zipcode of the event site | 37209 |
| Event Date Year | 2014 |
| Event Date Month | 6 |
| MidAir Collision Indicator | No |
| On Ground Collision occurred ? | No |
| Event Location Latitude | 361225N |
| Event Location Longitude | 0865322W |
| Event Location Airport | JOHN C TUNE |
| Event Location Nearest Airport ID | JWN |
| Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport | Off Airport/Airstrip |
| Distance from airport in statute miles | 2 |
| Degrees magnetic from airport | 355 |
| Airport Elevation | 495 |
| Weather Briefing Completeness | -- |
| Investigator's weather source | Weather Observation Facility |
| Time of the weather observation | 1253 Central Daylight Time |
| Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) | 90 |
| Weather Observation Facility ID | BNA |
| Elevation of weather observation facility | 599 |
| Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) | 11 |
| Time Zone of the weather observation | CDT |
| Lighting Conditions | Day |
| Lowest Ceiling Height | 3500 |
| Lowest Non-Ceiling Height | 2900 |
| Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions | Few |
| 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) | 29 |
| Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) | 21 |
| Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) | 190 |
| Variable Wind Indicator | Wind direction could be determined |
| Wind Speed (knots) | 13 |
| Wind Velocity Indicator | -- |
| Wind Gust Indicator | Gusting |
| Wind Gust (knots) | 21 |
| Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) | 29.96 |
| Density Altitude (feet) | -- |
| Intensity of Precipitation | -- |
| METAR weather report | METAR KBNA 241753Z 19013G21KT 10SM FEW029 BKN035 B |
| Event Highest Injury | None |
| On Ground, Fatal Injuries | -- |
| On Ground, Minor Injuries | -- |
| On Ground, Serious Injuries | -- |
| Injury Total Fatal | -- |
| Injury Total Minor | -- |
| Injury Total None | 2 |
| Injury Total Serious | -- |
| Injury Total All | -- |
| Investigating Agency | NTSB |
| NTSB Docket Number (internal use) | -- |
| NTSB Notification Source | FAA Southern ROC |
| NTSB Notification Date | -- |
| NTSB Notification Time | -- |
| Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Jul 7 2014 11:42AM |
| User who most recently changed record | kenj |
| Basic weather conditions | Visual Meteorological Cond |
| FAA District Office | -- |
Aircraft Involved |
|
|---|---|
Aircraft #1 |
|
| Aircraft Registration Number | N544BS |
| NTSB Number | ERA14LA311 |
| 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 | 10087 |
| Certified Max Gross Weight | 2500 |
| Aircraft Category | Helicopter |
| Aircraft Registration Class | -- |
| Aircraft is a homebuilt? | No |
| Flight Crew Seats | 2 |
| Cabin Crew Seats | -- |
| Passenger Seats | 4 |
| 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 | Apr 1 2014 12:00AM |
| Airframe hours since last inspection | 31 |
| Airframe Hours | 1659 |
| ELT Installed | Yes |
| ELT Activated | No |
| ELT Aided Location of Event Site | Unknown |
| ELT Type | C126 |
| Aircraft Owner Name | SIKORA LEONARD J |
| Aircraft Owner Street Address | -- |
| Aircraft Owner City | KEY LARGO |
| Aircraft Owner State | FL |
| Aircraft Owner Country | USA |
| Aircraft Owner Zipcode | 330375126 |
| Operator is an individual? | Yes |
| Operator Name | SIKORA LEONARD J |
| Operator Same as Owner? | Yes |
| Operator Is Doing Business As | -- |
| Operator Address Same as Owner? | Yes |
| Operator Street Address | -- |
| Operator City | KEY LARGO |
| Operator State | FL |
| Operator Country | USA |
| Operator Zip code | 330375126 |
| 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 | No |
| Departure Airport Code | JWN |
| Departure City | NASHVILLE |
| Departure State | TN |
| Departure Country | USA |
| Departure Time | 1235 |
| Departure Time Zone | CDT |
| Destination Same as Local Flt | -- |
| Destination Airport Code | DEC |
| Destination City | DECATUR |
| Destination State | IL |
| Destination Country | USA |
| Specific Phase of Flight | -- |
| Report sent to ICAO? | -- |
| Evacuation occurred | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Jul 7 2014 11:42AM |
| User who most recently changed record | kenj |
| Since inspection or accident | -- |
| Event Location Runway Number and Location | N/A |
| Runway Length | -- |
| Runway Width | -- |
| Sight Seeing flight | No |
| Air Medical Flight | No |
| Medical Flight | -- |