No fatalities

4 Jul 2017: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II — Easton, PA

Easton, PA, United States

On 4 Jul 2017, a ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II was involved in an aviation accident near Easton, PA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot’s distraction during liftoff due to the tail rotor chip warning light illuminating, which resulted in the helicopter drifting right, the skid touching down, and a dynamic roll-over. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

A helicopter rolled onto its side during lift-off after a tail rotor chip warning light distracted the pilot, causing a right drift and skid contact with the ground.

Incident Overview

A helicopter pilot reported that during lift-off, the tail rotor chip warning light illuminated, which distracted them momentarily. This distraction caused the helicopter to drift to the right, leading the right skid to contact the ground. Subsequently, the helicopter rolled over onto its right side.

Damage Assessment

The accident resulted in substantial damage to the helicopter. Specifically, the tail rotor drive shaft, the horizontal stabilizer, and the main rotor blades were damaged.

Pilot Report

The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. The incident was attributed solely to the distraction caused by the warning light.

Contributing factors

Directional control — Not attained/maintainedPilot