Centennial Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Englewood, Colorado 80121
Friday, July 11, 2014 7:15 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

One witness reported seeing the helicopter transition to the west with "low power indications" and "multiple yaws." The helicopter settled to the ground and then struck a fuel trailer near the taxiway, resulting in substantial damage to the tail boom. According to the pilot, he transitioned the helicopter to a hover and taxied adjacent to the taxiway. When he attempted a forward takeoff from the hover, the "low rotor rpm warning sounded, the helicopter lost lift," and he performed a "running landing." He stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter during the flight. An examination of the helicopter confirmed that there was nothing mechanically wrong with the helicopter.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot did not maintain control of the helicopter during the takeoff resulting in low rotor rpm and impact of the fuel trailer during the running landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/11/2014
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 715
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Englewood
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 80121
Event Date Year 2014
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 390000N
Event Location Longitude 1040000E
Event Location Airport Centennial
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KAPA
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0.25
Degrees magnetic from airport 90
Airport Elevation 5880
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 653 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID KAPA
Elevation of weather observation facility 5885
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 12000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
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) 20
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.16
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KAPA 111253Z 00000KT 10SM FEW120 SCT140 SCT1
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 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 33087
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 26 2014 3:44PM
User who most recently changed record kaij
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N69MP
NTSB Number CEN14CA360
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY
Aircraft Model R44 II
Aircraft Series Identifier II
Aircraft Serial Number 11941
Certified Max Gross Weight 2500
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 1
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Nov 13 2013 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 770
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type C91-A
Aircraft Owner Name PARKER STEVE H
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City KEY LARGO
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 330375204
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name PARKER STEVE H
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 330375204
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 KAPA
Departure City Englewood
Departure State CO
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 715
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code KOGA
Destination City Ogallala
Destination State NE
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 26 2014 3:43PM
User who most recently changed record kaij
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --