Robinson R44 accident near Ketchikan, Alaska, July 10, 2020
On July 10, 2020 at about 6:30 pm local time, a 2004 Robinson R44 (helicopter), registered N878CB, was substantially damaged in an accident during standing (engine(s) operating) near Ketchikan, Alaska. It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The crew leader's decision to throw a chainsaw bar into the moving arc of the main rotor blade.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 10, 2020 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Ketchikan, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R44 II, built 2004 · all R44s on the register
- Registration
- N878CB · registry record · serial 10404
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, after landing on an elevated helicopter deck and reducing the rotor RPM, he signaled for the brush cutting ground crew leader to approach the helicopter to collect additional chainsaw bars that were being dropped off. He added that, the crew leader indicated that two of the three chainsaw bars were not the correct bars needed, and then threw an incorrect bar away from the helicopter. Subsequently, the bar impacted a main rotor blade, which resulted in substantial damage. The pilot reported that the brush cutting crew had been briefed before operations on gear security, rotor awareness, and safe practices when working around the helicopter. The crew leader admitted to a lapse in judgment brought on by stress and frustration. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Miscellaneous/other during standing (engine(s) operating) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Ground crew
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Ground equipment › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,533 hours in all; 660 in this make and model; 95 in the last 90 days; 33 in the last 30 days; 1,472 as pilot in command; 914 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 12, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,323 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 20, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 AE1A5 (piston); 3,323 hours total
- Operator: Helicopter Air Alaska, LLC
The flight
- Departed from: Neets Bay AK
- Destination: Ketchikan AK
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,300 ft; scat at 1,800 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from PAKT, 26 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on August 3, 2021. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Accident Pictures | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N878CB the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.