Robinson R44 Destroyed by Post-Landing Fire in Sánchez Ramírez

Casualties unknown • DO

A Robinson R44 helicopter was destroyed by fire in Cevicos, Dominican Republic, after the pilot performed an emergency landing following an engine malfunction.

What happened

On March 28, 2013, a Robinson R44 helicopter, registration HI 865, was conducting a commercial flight from La Isabela International Airport (MDJB) to Puerto Plata. While flying at approximately 800 feet, roughly five miles south of Cevicos, the pilot detected a strong smell of smoke. Simultaneously, the engine began to fail and the rotor RPM decreased steadily.

In response to the engine malfunction, the pilot performed an emergency landing in a pasture on a livestock farm near Cevicos. Although the pilot initially intended to perform an autorotation, investigators noted the landing appeared controlled without the typical skid marks associated with such a maneuver. Following the touchdown, the aircraft caught fire. The fire spread toward the front of the helicopter, resulting in the near-total destruction of the airframe, including the cockpit, main rotor blades, engine compartment, and the right fuel tank.

The investigation

The CIAA investigation examined the aircraft's maintenance history, the pilot's experience, and the physical evidence at the crash site. The aircraft had been undergoing regular maintenance, with a 100-hour inspection completed in late 2012 and a 50-hour inspection performed in January 2013.

Investigators analyzed the wreckage and the landing site to determine the sequence of the fire. They noted that the aircraft landed facing south, which placed the wind at the tail. This orientation allowed the wind to drive the flames forward into the fuselage. Physical evidence, such as melted metal on the mast, indicated that the fire intensified while the aircraft was stationary on the ground.

Findings

  • The pilot, the sole occupant, escaped the aircraft without injury.
  • The aircraft was positioned with a tailwind during the fire, which facilitated the rapid spread of flames toward the front of the helicopter.
  • The exact cause of the initial fire or engine failure could not be determined due to the extensive damage caused by the subsequent blaze.
  • There was no evidence of an autorotative landing at the site.

Probable cause

The investigation was unable to establish the definitive cause of the engine failure or the origin of the fire because the intensity of the post-landing fire destroyed the necessary evidence.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2013-03-28 aircraft accident near DO?

A Robinson R44 helicopter was destroyed by fire in Cevicos, Dominican Republic, after the pilot performed an emergency landing following an engine malfunction.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2013-03-28 involved a aircraft, registration HI-865, at DO.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The investigation was unable to establish the definitive cause of the engine failure or the origin of the fire because the intensity of the post-landing fire destroyed the necessary evidence.

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