Robinson R44 Raven II accident near Rocky Point, North Carolina, May 3, 2006
On May 3, 2006, a Robinson R44 Raven II (helicopter), registered N288RH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rocky Point, North Carolina. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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 pilot's inadequate visual lookout during a precautionary landing which resulted in an in-flight collision with a transmission wire.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 3, 2006
- Place
- Rocky Point, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R44 Raven II · all R44 Raven IIs on the register
- Registration
- N288RH · no longer on the register · serial 10253
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that during his return flight the tail rotor chip detector light flickered and then came on and stayed on. He said he was familiar with the flight area and knew there was a fire department near his intended landing site. He elected to perform a precautionary landing near the fire department to inspect the helicopter. During the landing he failed to observe a TV transmission line, struck the line, nosed down from about 5-feet AGL, rolled to the left and impacted the ground. The pilot further stated that he was "impacted by a strong lateral wind gust from the east which swung the tail rotor into the low hanging cable. However, the nearest weather reporting facility did not report wind gusts at the time of the accident. The pilot also stated that there was "not a mechanical malfunction".
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,830 hours in all; 108 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: March 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 550 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 2006
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CRE Myrtle Beach SC
- Destination: 7NC1 Burgaw NC
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 220° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.