Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate visual lookout while conducting a nighttime landing to a dolly, which resulted in a stuck skid, and subsequent hard landing. A factor was the nighttime conditions.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
As the helicopter was being set down onto a dolly during the hours of darkness, it felt unstable, and the pilot elected to abort the landing. As the pilot raised the collective, the helicopter lurched forward and began to spin to the left. The pilot lowered the collective, reduced the throttle, and the helicopter touched down hard onto the ground, spreading the landing skids. Inspection of the dolly, and the landing skids on the helicopter, revealed that the rear portion of the left skid became stuck under metal framework, which was exposed in an open area near the center section of the dolly.
Source record
Factual narrative
On August 27, 2004, at 2150 eastern daylight time, a Robinson R44, N315SG, was substantially damaged landing at the Cape May County Airport (WWD), Wildwood, New Jersey. The certificated commercial pilot was not injured. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, as he was setting the helicopter down onto a dolly, it felt unstable, and he elected to abort the landing. As the pilot raised the collective, the helicopter lurched forward and began to spin to the left. The pilot lowered the collective, reduced the throttle, and the helicopter touched down hard onto the ground, spreading the landing skids. Inspection of the dolly, and the landing skids on the helicopter, revealed that the rear portion of the left skid became stuck under metal framework, which was exposed in an open area near the center section of the dolly. Inspection of the helicopter revealed that the main rotor blade severed the tail cone and damaged the tail rotor system.