Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II accident near Ketchikan, Alaska, October 6, 2015
On October 6, 2015 at about 3:15 pm local time, a 2003 Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, registered N779DZ, was substantially damaged in an accident during standing (engine(s) start-up) 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 pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the engine start sequence, which resulted in the helicopter sliding on a steel deck and impacting a crane. Contributing to the accident was the absence of traction material on the helicopter operations portion of the steel deck.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 6, 2015 · about 3:15 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 Helicopter Company R44 II II, built 2003
- Registration
- N779DZ · registry record · serial 10149
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter pilot reported that during the engine start sequence on an offshore barge with a bare steel deck, the main rotor system clutch was engaging, and the throttle was applied to maintain 60 percent engine revolutions per minute. He reported that the skid and tundra/snow board equipped helicopter began a rapid right yaw, left pedal was applied simultaneously with throttle closure, but the helicopter rapidly yawed left resulting in the vertical stabilizer and tail rotor blade system impacting a crane stationed on the deck. The pilot then shut down the helicopter without further incident. A postflight inspection revealed substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and the tail rotor blade system. The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine 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
- Loss of control on ground during standing (engine(s) start-up) defining event
- Ground collision during standing (engine(s) start-up)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- factor Environmental issues › Operating environment › Airport facilities/design › Runway/landing area condition › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Ground equipment › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,914.5 hours in all; 669.2 in this make and model; 195.8 in the last 90 days; 96 in the last 30 days; 1,759.3 as pilot in command; 668.2 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 7, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,467.9 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 27, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5 (piston); 3,828 hours total
- Operator: Pollux Aviation LTD
The flight
- Departed from: Ketchikan AK
- Destination: Ketchikan AK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 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
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.
Other NTSB records under N779DZ 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.