Accident Overview
On July 20, 2009, at approximately 09:30 Japan Standard Time, a Robinson R44 II helicopter, registered JA32CT, crashed into a forest on the western slope of Mt. Higashi-tokonoo, elevation 839.1 meters, about 15 kilometers southeast of Tajima Airport. The aircraft was privately owned and operated under visual flight rules. The captain and a passenger were on board; both died in the crash. The helicopter was destroyed and a fire broke out after impact.
Flight History
The helicopter departed Miho Airport at 08:37 on a familiarization flight to Tajima Airport. The flight plan specified a cruising speed of 100 knots, visual flight rules altitude, and an estimated endurance of 2 hours. Communication with the Osaka Flight Service Center and the Tajima Flight Advisory Service Station indicated that the pilot reported flying above clouds, searching for an opening, and believing the aircraft was above the runway before moving east. The last radar contact occurred at 09:20:40, showing the aircraft at an altitude of about 2,900 feet and a ground speed of 60 knots, approximately 7.6 nautical miles west-southwest of Tajima Airport. The last radio transmission was at 09:25:04. GPS track data ended near the accident site.
Search and Discovery
After the helicopter went missing, search efforts were conducted by the National Police Agency, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, the Japan Coast Guard, and the Ministry of Defense. On August 6, 2009, at about 10:53, a Hyogo Prefectural Police helicopter located the wreckage, confirming it as JA32CT.
Witness Reports
Several witnesses reported hearing helicopter sounds or seeing a low-flying silver or gray helicopter in the area around the time of the accident. One witness observed the helicopter flying at an altitude lower than mountain ridges, and another noted it flying beneath fog. Witnesses described the helicopter's color as gray or whitish. The weather in the area was reported as cloudy with fog on the mountains.
Investigation
The Japan Transport Safety Board investigated the accident with participation of an accredited representative from the United States, as the state of design and manufacture. The investigation included interviews, on-site examination, teardown inspections of the engine, main gearbox, and instruments, and analysis of radar and GPS data. No probable cause was determined in the available report.