Robinson R44 accident near Bourne, Massachusetts, November 1, 2005
On November 1, 2005 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Robinson R44 (helicopter), registered N319CD, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bourne, Massachusetts (Falmouth airport). It was an external-load flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The inadvertent contact of a lift strap with the tail rotor during external load operations, which resulted in a forced landing and subsequent collision with terrain. A factor in this accident was the gusty wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 1, 2005 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Bourne, Massachusetts · Falmouth · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R44 · all R44s on the register
- Registration
- N319CD · no longer on the register · serial 0585
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- External-load flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was conducting external load operations, when a gust of wind blew the lifting strap into the tail rotor. The helicopter began to shudder, and rotate to the left. The pilot entered an autorotation; however, during landing, the helicopter rolled over onto its left side. Winds reported at an airport located about 4 miles east-southeast of the accident site, about the time of the accident, were from 200 degrees at 17 knots, with 23 knot gusts.
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: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 731 hours in all; 355 in this make and model; 135 in the last 90 days; 65 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,278 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 1, 2003; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Wareham MA at 5:15 pm
- Destination: NONE
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 17 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 5:55 pm from FMH, 4 miles away
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.