Loss of Control in Flight: Robinson R44 Raven, N616HS; fatal accident occurred July 08, 2018 near Williamsburg-Jamestown Airport (KJGG), Virginia

Accident Site 

Helicopter – View of Left Side 

Helicopter – View of Right Side 

Helicopter – View of Bottom 

Map of ADSB Tracking Data

Jean Lonchak Danylko 

A retired Army officer, Henry Schwarz was president of the Virginia Helicopter Association. In this 2015 photograph, Schwarz stood in front of the Robinson R44 Raven II he later crashed in.

The National Transportation Safety Board traveled to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entities:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Richmond, Virginia
Robinson Helicopter Inc; Torrence, California Lycoming Engines; Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms

http://registry.faa.gov/N616HS 

Location: Williamsburg, VA
Accident Number: ERA18FA187
Date & Time: 07/08/2018, 1633 EDT
Registration: N616HS
Aircraft: Robinson R44
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Defining Event: Loss of control in flight
Injuries: 2 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

On July 8, 2018, about 1633 eastern daylight time, a Robinson R44-II, N616HS, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident in Williamsburg, Virginia. The pilot and one person on the ground were fatally injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

The pilot had flown from Stafford Regional Airport (RMN), Stafford, Virginia, to Williamsburg Jamestown Airport (JGG), Williamsburg, Virginia, earlier that morning to attend a meeting at JGG. Airport personnel reported that the helicopter had been refueled to capacity before the pilot departed on the return flight to RMN.

Automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data showed that the helicopter departed JGG about 1630, then turned north. The helicopter climbed to a pressure altitude about 1,700 ft. After reaching 1,700 ft, the helicopter leveled off and the groundspeed increased from about 60 knots to about 110 knots over the next 1.5 minutes. The helicopter then entered a right, decreasing-radius, turning descent that continued until tracking coverage was lost. At the last recorded position, the helicopter was in the vicinity of the accident site, descending at a rate greater than 10,000 ft per minute.

Several witnesses near the accident site described the helicopter as flying low; one estimated its height about 100 ft above the ground as it approached a two-story condominium complex. They described it as flying relatively straight and level, or slightly descending, before suddenly pitching nose down and descending into the roof of the building. One witness described the helicopter as "rocking back and forth unsteadily" just before it pitched downward. Another witness, located about 300 ft south of accident site, recalled the engine making a "constant sound" as it flew over his head.

The helicopter impacted a condominium building located about 3 nautical miles north of JGG.

Pilot Information

Certificate: Commercial
Age: 85, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Right
Other Aircraft Rating(s): Helicopter
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: Yes
Medical Certification: None None
Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time:  (Estimated) 5693 hours (Total, all aircraft), 545 hours (Total, this make and model)

According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airman records, the pilot did not possess a valid medical certificate at the time of the accident. His application for a medical certificate in 2016 was deferred to the FAA for evaluation of his recent surgical interventions for tremors related to Parkinson's disease. As recently as April 2018, the FAA denied issuing a medical certificate due to the pilot's cognitive impairment and Parkinson's disease.

The last entry in the pilot's logbook was a round-trip flight from RMN to JGG in December 2017. Although not logged as such, that flight was with an instructor, according to a witness statement. During doctor visits in 2017 and 2018, he reported that his last flight was on August 1, 2016.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Robinson
Registration: N616HS
Model/Series: R44 II
Aircraft Category: Helicopter
Year of Manufacture: 2004
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 10449
Landing Gear Type: Skid;
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 08/24/2017, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2500 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 619 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Lycoming
ELT: Installed
Engine Model/Series: IO-540-AE1A5
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 260 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

The most recent recorded maintenance was an oil change performed on January 26, 2018, at an airframe and engine total time of 649 hours, and 35 hours since engine overhaul. The airframe total time at the time of the accident could not be determined.

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light:Day 
Observation Facility, Elevation: JGG, 49 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 3 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1635 EDT
Direction from Accident Site: 168°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: Calm /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:
Wind Direction:
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
Altimeter Setting: 30.27 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 29°C / 10°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Williamsburg, VA (JGG)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Stafford, VA (RMN)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time:1630 EDT 
Type of Airspace: Class G 

Airport Information

Airport: Williamsburg-Jamestown (JGG)
Runway Surface Type: N/A
Airport Elevation: 49 ft
Runway Surface Condition:
Runway Used: N/A
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width:
VFR Approach/Landing: None 

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: On-Ground
Ground Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 37.288333, -76.729444 

The main wreckage came to rest inside the north end of the building, with some components, including a section of the tail rotor drive shaft, found along the 70-ft wreckage path extending from the building on a heading of about 20° magnetic. All the major components of the helicopter were present at the accident site except for the tail boom. The vertical stabilizer, aft bulkhead, and a section of the tail rotor guard were located; however, building damage prevented access to several areas surrounding the main wreckage. Many of the components were partially or completely consumed by a post-crash fire. Remnants of the removable copilot side controls were found near their stowed position. Remnants of all pilot side controls were present. All hydraulic controls were identified, with portions of all push-pull rods extending from the hydraulic actuators. Portions of the flight control rods were thermally damaged. All main and tail rotor flight control rod ends were secure to their attachment points at both ends, except for the tail rotor gear box connection, which was not recovered. The transmission input sheave (pulley) was manually rotated in both the locking and freewheeling modes, and the main rotor drive shaft rotated with the sheave, with some interference from a damaged flex coupling. A score mark on the aft face of the upper sheave was about 4 inches long in the direction of rotation. The leading edges of both main rotor blades were dented and bent in several locations and remained attached to the rotor hub. Most of the remainder of the main rotor blades were consumed by fire. The tail rotor gearbox mounting bolts were fractured consistent with overload. The transmission continuity was confirmed from the upper sheave to the main rotor mast and to the intermediate flex coupling. The main and auxiliary fuel tanks were severely damaged. The main tank cap was in place; the auxiliary tank cap was missing. Portions of the main and auxiliary fuel tanks were consumed by post-crash fire. The tail rotor gearbox, remnants of tail rotor blades, and remnants of the main rotor tips were found near the location of the main wreckage during a subsequent search of the accident site in October 2018.

The engine crankshaft rotated freely by hand. The crankshaft gear index pin was sheared, and the gear bolt was found mostly unthreaded. The locking tab on the bolt head was found in place against the bolt head. After securing the gear in place, valvetrain and continuity from the engine crankshaft to the accessory section was confirmed. A subsequent examination of the crankshaft gear bolt, locking tab, and accessory gears in the NTSB Materials Laboratory revealed no preimpact damage or anomalies. The engine accessory case cover, which covers the crankshaft gear and accessory gears, was impact damaged and partially missing. The engine was oriented in the helicopter with the accessory case facing forward. Both oil coolers, one on each side of the engine, exhibited grinding damage in line with the starter ring gear. Thumb compression and suction were present on all cylinders, though weaker on cylinder No. 5. The cylinder head and intake pipe for cylinder No. 5 displayed impact damage, and debris was found in the intake. All spark plugs exhibited normal wear and coloration when compared to the Champion check-a-plug chart; the Nos. 4 and 6 bottom spark plugs were oil-soaked. Both magnetos were impact and fire damaged and could not be functionally tested. Borescope inspection of all cylinders revealed no damage or scoring marks on piston tops, cylinder walls, or valves. The fuel injection servo inlet screen was free of debris. The butterfly valve was found in the full-open position; however, the input control rod was damaged and not connected. Impact damage to the mixture control actuator precluded determination of its position. The mixture control knob in the cockpit was found in the full-rich position. All six fuel injector nozzles were found unobstructed.

Medical And Pathological Information

An autopsy of the pilot was performed by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Central District of Virginia. The pilot's cause of death was blunt force trauma.

Toxicology testing performed on the pilot by the FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory identified 0.032 grams per deciliter (gm/dL) of ethanol in kidney tissue and no drugs or ethanol in muscle. The finding of ethanol in kidney tissue but not muscle is consistent with postmortem production.

The 85-year-old pilot had a long history of progressive upper extremity tremor that he had reported to the FAA. According to personal medical records, the pilot had been diagnosed with a parkinsonian syndrome in April 2015. Treatment with medication resulted in some improvement of his symptoms. He subsequently had a deep brain stimulator (DBS) implanted that improved his right-hand tremor. Neuropsychological evaluations performed pre- (September 2015) and post- (August 2016) surgery determined increased cognitive decline to mild cortical dementia; cognitive decline can be a side-effect of the surgery. After the surgery, the pilot reported that his right-hand tremors had improved, but worsened later in the day, attributed to fatigue. The neuropsychological testing in August 2016 determined that the pilot was not insightful about his cognitive issues and that he had worsening of psychomotor speed and attention. In a letter written to the FAA in September 2016, the pilot's neurologist recommended that he not fly due to his dementia. The pilot was started on medication to treat the dementia. The pilot began seeing a new neurologist in June of 2017 when he informed the neurologist of his desire to return to flight status and he complained of tremors and memory difficulties. The second neurologist concurred that the pilot should not fly and should only drive short distances because he was concerned about the pilot's reaction time and judgment. The neurologist ordered physical therapy.


In an August 2017 visit to the neurologist, the pilot reported having had six motor vehicle accidents through the spring of that year, and was having constant daily left hand tremors and imbalance. Left hand resting tremors, which were greater than the right hand, were noted. A follow-up evaluation found improvement from previous testing with evidence of mild cognitive impairment instead of dementia. Also noted was that the pilot had impaired measures of simple attention and visual scanning and tracking speed and mild, relative difficulty with sustained attention. The pilot reported self-discontinuing his medication for dementia in September 2017 because of a letter from the FAA that stated, "that as long as he used the patch, he would not be able to receive a flying license." At numerous physician office visits, the pilot had reported difficulty with tremors, balance, and memory. A driver rehab evaluation performed in October 2017 noted below-normal dynamic vision and vision information processing. The pilot demonstrated deficits in both sustained and divided attention. A driving restriction of "drive within a 15-mile radius from home" was recommended. Subsequently, at the pilot's neurologist visit on October 31, 2018, the pilot reported failing his department of motor vehicle (DMV) driver's test and mentioned that he was going to try a different DMV office to get his driver's license reinstated. At the January 19, 2018, visit, the pilot told the neurologist that his driver's license had been reissued. The last office visit to the neurologist prior to the accident was on May 4, 2018. The pilot reported his disappointment with the April 2018 FAA denial to issue his medical certificate. He stated he had had an appointment with the neurosurgeon in the next 6 months to a year to replace his DBS battery. The pilot reported continued bilateral hand tremors with mild imbalance. On a physical exam, slowed movements, decreased eyeblinks, a mild wide-based gait, and left greater than right hand resting tremors were noted.

Location: Williamsburg, VA
Accident Number: ERA18FA187
Date & Time: 07/08/2018, 1633 EDT
Registration: N616HS
Aircraft: Robinson R44
Injuries: 2 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

On July 8, 2018, about 1633 eastern daylight time, a Robinson R44-II, N616HS, was destroyed when it impacted a condominium building in Williamsburg, Virginia. The commercial pilot on-board the helicopter and one resident in the building were fatally injured. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the flight, which originated from Williamsburg-Jamestown Airport (JGG), Williamsburg, Virginia about 1640 and was destined for Stafford Regional Airport (RMN), Stafford, Virginia. The helicopter was privately owned and operated by the commercial pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.

The pilot had flown from RMN to the JGG earlier that morning to attend a meeting at the airport. Airport personnel reported that the helicopter had been refueled, topping off both fuel tanks, prior to departure from JGG.

Review of preliminary Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic control radar data show the helicopter departed JGG about 1630, and then headed north toward the accident site. The helicopter climbed to a pressure altitude of about 1,700 feet. After reaching 1,700 feet, the helicopter leveled off, and the groundspeed increased from about 60 knots to about 110 knots over the next 1.5 minutes. The helicopter then entered a right decreasing radius turn, while descending, until tracking coverage was lost. At the last recorded position, the helicopter was in the vicinity of the accident site, descending at a rate greater than 10,000 feet per minute.

Several witnesses near the accident site described the helicopter as flying low, one estimated its height at about 100 feet above the ground, as it approached the two-story condominium complex. They described it as flying relatively straight and level or slightly descending, before suddenly pitching nose down and descending into the roof of the building. One witness described the helicopter as "rocking back and forth unsteadily" just before it pitched downward. Another witness located about 100 yards south of accident site recalled the engine making a "constant sound" as it flew over his head.

The helicopter impacted a two-story 10 unit condominium building located about 3 nautical miles north of JGG. The main wreckage came to rest inside the north end of the building, with some components including a section of the tail rotor drive shaft found along the 70-foot wreckage path extending from the building on a heading of about 20° magnetic.

Examination of the wreckage revealed that all the major components of the helicopter were present at the accident site except for the tail boom, the tail rotor, and tail rotor gearbox. The vertical stabilizer and aft bulkhead and a section of the tail rotor guard were located, however fire and building collapse damage prevented access to several areas surrounding the main wreckage. Many of the components were partially or completely consumed by a post-crash fire. Remnants of the removable copilot side controls were found near their stowed position. Remnants of all the pilot side controls were present. All hydraulic controls were identified with portions of all the push-pull rods extending from the hydraulic actuators. Portions of the flight control rods were thermally damaged. All main and tail rotor flight control rod ends were secure to their attachment points at both ends, except for the tail rotor gear box connection which was not recovered. The transmission input sheave (pully) was manually rotated in both the locking and freewheeling modes, and the main rotor drive shaft rotated with the sheave, with some interference from a damaged flex coupling. A score mark on the aft face of the upper sheave was about 4 inches long in the direction of rotation. The leading edges of both main rotor blades were dented and bent in several locations and remained attached to the rotor hub. About 1 foot of each tip of both blade spars were not recovered and most of the remainder of the main rotor blades were consumed by fire. The tail rotor gearbox mounting bolts were fractured consistent with overload. The transmission continuity was confirmed from the upper sheave to the main rotor mast and to the intermediate flex coupling. The main and auxiliary fuel tanks were severely damaged. The cap on the main tank was in place, the cap on the auxiliary tank was missing. Portions of the main and auxiliary fuel tanks were consumed by post-crash fire.

The engine crankshaft was rotated freely by hand. Both oil coolers, one on each side of the engine, exhibited grinding damage in line with the starter ring gear. Thumb compression and suction were present on all cylinders, though weaker on cylinder No. 5. The cylinder head and intake pipe for cylinder No. 5 received impact damage, and debris was found in the intake. All spark plugs exhibited normal wear and coloration as compared to the Champion check-a-plug chart, the number 4 and 6 bottom spark plugs were oil-soaked. Both magnetos were impact and fire damaged and could not be tested. Borescope inspection of all cylinders did not reveal any damage or scoring marks on piston tops, cylinder walls or valves. The fuel injection servo inlet screen was free of debris. The butterfly valve was found in the full open position however the input control rod was damaged and not connected, the mixture control actuator was too damaged to determine its position. The mixture control knob in the cockpit was found in the full rich position. All six fuel injector nozzles were found unobstructed.

A review of helicopter maintenance logbooks revealed that the most recent annual inspection was performed by the helicopter manufacturer on August 24, 2017, at an airframe total time of 619 hours, as part of the 12-year inspection and overhaul maintenance recommendation. The most recent recorded maintenance was an oil change and was performed on January 26, 2018 at an airframe total time of 649 hours. The airframe total time at the time of the accident could not be determined.

According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airman records, the 85-year-old pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single engine land, airplane multiengine land, instrument-airplane, and rotorcraft-helicopter. A review of his logbook revealed he had accumulated 5,693 total hours of flight experience, of which 1,919 hours were in rotorcraft, and of those, 545 hours were in the same make and model as the accident helicopter.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Robinson
Registration: N616HS
Model/Series: R44 II
Aircraft Category: Helicopter
Amateur Built: No
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KJGG, 49 ft msl
Observation Time: 1635 EDT
Distance from Accident Site: 3 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 29°C / 10°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: Calm / ,
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility:  10 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.27 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Williamsburg, VA (JGG)
Destination: Stafford, VA (RMN)

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: On-Ground
Ground Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 37.288333, -76.729444

Before the fiery crash that left two people dead and dozens displaced, the pilot who crashed his helicopter into Bristol Commons in July had his medical certificate to fly revoked by the Federal Aviation Administration.

In a letter to homeowners denying an insurance payout for the destruction at the Williamsburg complex, pilot Henry “Hank” Schwarz’s insurance company said Schwarz flew illegally.

“Based on our investigation … that insurance coverage … including all claims for injuries damages, and losses related thereto that are or may be asserted by your client and/or by any third parties, is hereby denied,” the letter obtained by The Virginia Gazette said.

Schwarz’s caretaker said he had health problems, including Parkinson’s Disease, which would have required the FAA to decide whether he was fit to fly.

On July 8, 2018, a Robinson R44 helicopter piloted by Schwarz plummeted into a 10-unit residential complex killing Schwarz and 91-year-old resident Jean Lonchak Danylko.

The crash and the ensuing inferno destroyed the building. On Monday, Bristol Commons homeowners submitted an architectural building plan to Williamsburg city planners. Those plans will be kept under wraps until they are approved by the Planning Department.

Bristol Commons Owners’ Association board member Paul Leslie said in an address to homeowners at a Tuesday night meeting that Nationwide Insurance will soon give the organization about $1.5 million for the rebuild.

However, he also said there’s no set date for the end of the demolition of the burned out remains of the building.

Unfit to fly

The insurance letter from Pathfinder Indemnity Company Limited indicates the FAA reviewed and revoked Schwarz’s medical certificate on May 30, 2017 — more than a year before the crash. That certificate would have validated his Class 2 pilot’s license with medical limitations; without it, Schwarz flew illegally.

“A careful review of medical information provided by your treating physician dated September 16, 2016, discloses that you do not meet the medical standards … by virtue of your diagnosis of (REDACTED)...” the insurance letter said of the FAA review.

The FAA demanded Schwarz turn over his medical certificate due to the agency’s findings within 14 days or face punishment, according to the letter. It’s unclear whether or not Schwarz turned in his certificate.

According to Schwarz’s caretaker, Theresa Monroe, that diagnosis was Parkinson’s Disease, which he was diagnoised with five years ago.

Both Schwarz and his wife needed a neurologist to tend to their degenerative neurological conditions: his Parkinson’s, her dementia, Monroe said.

Monroe married Schwarz’s widowed son-in-law after Schwarz’s daughter died from cancer several years earlier. Monroe helped Schwarz find a neurologist in Alexandria so he and his wife could receive treatment.

Monroe drove the Schwarzes to and from most medical appointments, she said. Once, while sitting in on a doctor’s visit with the pair, Monroe said the doctor told Schwarz “When it’s your turn for the appointment, we’ll talk about your Parkinson’s.”

Parkinson’s Disease is the second most common degenerative neurological disease in the United States. It occurs as parts of the brain, which control movement, selectively die off, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As symptoms become more aggressive, tremors, body shakes, difficulty walking and cognitive decline can occur.

As late as April 12, 2018, Schwarz lobbied the FAA to restore his medical certification to fly, according to the insurance letter.

When the FAA reconsidered the revocation they told him, “We have again reviewed your complete file and regret that we have no alternative except to sustain our previous denial dated May 30, 2017 due to your aeromedically significant (REDACTED),” the letter said.

Schwarz ignored that ruling and flew anyway.

On July 8, he drove from his home in a Washington, D.C., suburb to the Stafford Regional Airport outside Fredericksburg. He flew out of the airport in his Robinson R44 helicopter.

After a meeting with the Virginia Helicopters Association at the Williamsburg-Jamestown Airport, Schwarz took off at 4:26 p.m. after topping off both gas tanks.

Less than 10 minutes later and headed for Stafford, Schwarz crashed his helicopter into a 10-unit residential complex in Williamsburg, killing himself and 91-year-old Danylko.

The National Transportation Safety Board has released no new information to the public about the crash since a July 20 preliminary report.

The FAA denied an October Freedom of Information Act request for Schwarz’s health records. In another request made in October and clarified in November, the FAA provided airman records and Schwarz’s death certificate. A third request is pending, but it remains unclear whether or not it will be processed in a timely manner due to the partial federal government shutdown.

FAA offices in New York City and Richmond were shuttered Friday.

Schwarz’s death was an accident, according to his death certificate. He died of blunt force trauma across his entire body. The record does not mention any ailments he may have suffered before he died.

By land and air

In the years before the crash, Schwarz’s family was leery of flying with him.

Theresa Monroe said she and her husband Ned refused to allow their son Harry — Schwarz’s biological grandson — to fly with Schwarz in the last few years.

From flying to driving, Schwarz struggled to get around, according to residents in his Fairfax County neighborhood, county fire department records and Monroe.

On June 11 and July 10, 2017, Schwarz crashed his car into his garage. The first crash was severe, records indicate: Schwarz drove his late-model Chrysler 300 sedan through a brick partition that divided the two-car garage. When the fire department arrived after neighbors called 911, firefighters discovered Schwarz’s vehicle at rest on top of the partition in the middle of the two car garage. The Fairfax County Fire Department report indicates there was significant structural damage to the building. Neighbors photographed the incident.

Seventeen years before those crashes, Schwarz crashed a hand-built experimental airplane into a cornfield outside of Fredericksburg’s Shannon Airport, according to archived NTSB reports. He suffered minor injuries and the plane was a loss.

Schwarz, a long-time resident of Fairfax County’s Southwood neighborhood outside Mt. Vernon, was a retired Vietnam War combat pilot with several thousand hours of flight time, according to friends, neighbors and NTSB reports. He first obtained airman certification on Christmas Eve 1957.

Friends, neighbors and fellow aircraft enthusiasts called Schwarz a mixture of meticulous, stubborn and dedicated to flying.

“What he did with his life, I could have another 80 years to my life and I'll never be able to (do),” Schwarz’s friend DJ Shelton of King George County said. “In Vietnam, he orchestrated the rescue and destruction of POW camps.”

The stubborn side of Schwarz showed itself in Shelton’s last ride with him, just months before the July 8 crash, he said.

“I was watching Henry take a drink of his water, his hands were shaking pretty good. I made the fatal mistake of asking Henry if he was OK (immediately before takeoff). He dipped the nose of that helicopter and took off … he scared the bejeebus out of me.”

Shelton had no idea Schwarz was found unfit to fly by the FAA, he said. Both he and Schwarz had grown apart during the past five years.

From fights with neighbors over how the entrance sign to the neighborhood should be landscaped, to neighbors’ reactions when he painted the shutters on his home bubblegum pink, Schwarz did not like to have his opinions discounted, according to his neighbors.

As he got older, Schwarz became even more stubborn in some respects. And he fought to remain independent, Monroe said.

“We begged him to stop. I don’t know why he kept flying.”

Monroe paused. “He loved it.”


https://www.dailypress.com

WILLIAMSBURG — The small, four-seat helicopter was in the air only a few minutes before something went wrong.

The Robinson R44 Raven II had flown about a mile from the Williamsburg-Jamestown Airport on Sunday when it crashed into the Bristol Commons townhome complex off Ironbound Road, setting a 10-unit building on fire.

Witnesses to the crash said they heard an explosion before seeing the building go up in flames.

Bristol Commons resident Jean Lonchak Danylko, 91, and pilot Henry E. Schwarz of Alexandria, Virginia, were killed in the crash, authorities confirmed.

Since 1995, the Federal Aviation Administration has issued a handful of special airworthiness information bulletins for the Robinson R44, which is not uncommon.

But some aviation lawyers say the R44 can experience certain mechanical issues and post-crash fires.

“The R44 does have a statistically higher accident rate than other helicopters,” said Ladd Sanger, a helicopter pilot and aviation attorney with Texas-based firm Slack Davis Sanger. “The question on this case is why did the helicopter come out of the air in the first place?”

Other pilots, such as Ray Jarman, membership coordinator for the Virginia Helicopter Association, say the R44 is safe.

“The R44 is one of the most popular models around,” Jarman said. “I take issue with that. That’s untrue as far as I’m concerned. They are not unsafe. Any aircraft can be unsafe if it operated outside of its design limits.”

Bristol Commons crash

National Transportation Safety Board investigator Doug Brazy said the four-seat, single-engine Robinson R44 helicopter left the Williamsburg-Jamestown Airport around 4:30 p.m. Sunday.

The helicopter ended up crashing “halfway between the front and back” of the condo building, located in the 1100 block of Settlement Drive, Brazy said.

Fire officials worked through the night Sunday into Monday morning to put out the fire and remaining hot spots, allowing NTSB and FAA investigators to enter the building and approach the aircraft.

NTSB spokesman Peter Knudson said investigators are typically on the scene for two to three days following aircraft crashes. The NTSB will release a final report on the cause in 12 to 24 months.

Brazy said Monday that he believed Schwarz was properly certified for flying helicopters and other aircraft.

Flight data on Schwarz’s helicopter shows he traveled to various states, including Texas, along the coast of California near Los Angeles, Arizona and more.

In response to the crash, Robinson Helicopter Co. also released a statement.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families, loved ones, and friends of those affected by the accident,” Robinson spokeswoman Loretta Conley said. “Robinson’s accident investigators are currently onsite assisting the FAA and NTSB with the investigation, which prevents us from commenting on this particular incident.”

R44 incidents

So far in 2018, NTSB records show there have been 11 crashes — three of which were fatal — involving Robinson R44 helicopters in the United States.

Since January 2000, 158 of 432 crashes involving R44s worldwide since have been fatal. The NTSB reports the cause of several recent crashes — including in Alaska and Wisconsin — as pilot error.

““When you encounter turbulence, you have to slow down,” Jarman said. “It’s like riding down an interstate highway at 70 mph and all of a sudden it turns into a secondary state highway and then gravel. If you don’t slow down that vehicle will be damaged.”

The New Zealand Department of Conservation no longer allows some Robinson helicopters, including the R44 and R22, to fly in that country’s airspace, according to news reports.

Since 1995, the FAA has issued 10 special airworthiness information bulletins for the R44. The bulletins cover parts such as carbon monoxide detectors, navigation equipment, rotor blades, alternator belts and a fuel tank bladder retrofit.

Special airworthiness information bulletins are not uncommon. In the past 60 days, the FAA has issued six bulletins for several manufacturers, including the Boeing Co. Other popular helicopter manufacturers, such as Airbus, have also seen bulletins issued for various models.

The R44 fuel tank was the subject of a Robinson service bulletin in December 2010, Conley said. The FAA also issued a special airworthiness bulletin for the same fuel tank issue in December 2012.

The service bulletin required R44 owners to fit the fuel tank with a bladder to improve the fuel system’s resistance to post-crash fuel tank leaks and fires.

The FAA did not mandate the replacements, according to NTSB records.

Several years before, in 2006, Robinson released a safety notice advising pilots and passengers to wear fireproof suits, gloves and helmets.

Sanger said a settlement in one of his cases in 2010 prompted the requirement for retrofitting tanks with bladders.

Conley said manufacturer’s records show that Schwarz’s R44, which exploded moments after impact Sunday, had been retrofitted with a bladder-type fuel tank.

“You can’t prevent all fires, but we’re looking to prevent post-crash fires in otherwise survivable accidents,” Sanger said.

Sanger added that it’s unlikely many helicopters are flying today without the bladder retrofit, although some may still have the original fuel tank.

“These tanks have proven to be extremely effective in minimizing fires in survivable accidents,” Conley said.

Knudson said the NTSB does not have additional comment or information on the crash beyond what was released Monday.

Lawsuits

Sanger has been practicing law for two decades and said he’s been involved in about a dozen R44-related cases.

There are several safety issues with R44s, including “mast bumping,” drive-belt system failures and rotor blade delamination.

In some situations, the high mast — the tower that extends from the top of the cabin to the rotor — can be hit by the rotor, causing an unbalanced condition in which the blades may hit the cabin, Sanger said.

Conditions such as turbulence, high travel speeds or certain pilot maneuvers can cause mast bumping.

The lamination on the rotors can also start to peel away if the helicopter is used in sandy or humid climates, making the aircraft less aerodynamic, Sanger said.

FAA compliance and regulations

FAA spokesman Tony Molinaro said the issue of post-crash fires and crash-resistant fuel systems involves all makes of helicopters.

The NTSB has recommended that all newly manufactured helicopters have crash-resistant fuel systems installed.

According to the FAA, only seven manufacturers have built helicopter models that are fully compliant with the administration’s crash-resistant fuel-system safety standards. One Robinson helicopter, the R66, is on that list.

When developing aviation-related regulations, the FAA also must operate within the Federal Advisory Committee Act, which includes stipulations such as seeking the advice of interested parties, like the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee.

“We also must, under federal law, consider the cost and benefits of any regulatory actions,” Molinaro said.

The rulemaking advisory committee released a final report with recommendations on crash-resistant fuel systems on March 29. The report analyzed various helicopter crashes and determined the survivability of each crash, whether there was a post-crash fire, and the cause of the fire.

The Robinson R44 is mentioned once in the report, in a section about the material of fuel-tank liners for small versus large aircraft. In the section, the report states in-tank bladders have “ a proven field history of significantly reducing post-crash fire rates as was demonstrated in this report.”


https://wydaily.com

WILLIAMSBURG —Investigators have recovered the engine from the Robinson R44 Raven that crashed into a Williamsburg condominium building on Sunday, killing the pilot and a 91-year-old woman who lived in the complex.

Representatives of the Federal Aviation Administration, the National Transportation Safety Board, the helicopter company and the engine’s manufacturer remained at the scene Tuesday, along with Williamsburg fire crews and members of the Virginia State Police.

One investigator was observed looking over the engine, while another was seen photographing parts of the aircraft that had been recovered from the heavily damaged building in the Bristol Commons neighborhood.

The Robinson R44 Raven is a small utility helicopter manufactured by the Robinson Helicopter Co. of Torrance, California. The rotorcraft, which can seat one pilot and three passengers, is powered by a 245-horsepower, six-cylinder engine made by Lycoming Engines of Williamsport, Pennsylvania. It is 38 feet long and has a main rotor with a radius of 16½ feet, according to the manufacturer.

Doug Brazy, a  National Transportation Safety Board investigator, told reporters on Monday that the helicopter is about the size of a small car.

The crash happened shortly after 4:30 p.m. Sunday when the helicopter, which had taken off just minutes before from the Williamsburg-Jamestown Airport, slammed into a 10-unit townhome building in the 1100 block of Settlement Drive. According to witnesses, the craft exploded moments after impact, sparking a fire that engulfed much of the building.

Charley Rogers, a fixed-based operator at the Williamsburg-Jamestown Airport, confirmed that the pilot was Henry Schwarz of Alexandria, Virginia. Schwarz, the sole occupant onboard the aircraft, had taken off from the airport at 4:26 p.m. Sunday, Rogers said.

Federal Aviation Administration records show the helicopter has been registered to Schwarz since 2004.

The crash also killed Jean Lonchak Danylko, who lived in a first-floor townhouse in the building that was hit.

The National Transportation Safety Board is expected to issue a preliminary report on the crash within the next 10 to 14 days, Brazy said Monday.


Story and video ➤ https://wydaily.com

(WILLIAMSBURG, Va.) — One person is dead and the pilot of a helicopter is missing after a helicopter crashed into a condo complex in the popular destination town of Williamsburg, Virginia, on Sunday.

Virginia State Police said they responded to the crash in the Bristol Commons condominium complex just before 5 p.m. The crash caused the condo building to catch on fire, authorities said. Eyewitness video showed flames and thick smoke engulfing the entire two-story building.

State police confirmed one person in the condo building was killed in the accident.

The Federal Aviation Administration said on Twitter late Sunday that the accident involved an Robinson R44 Raven and only the pilot was on board. State police had said earlier in the evening they were still searching for the pilot. However, the FAA later said there were multiple victims.

The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are still investigating the cause of the accident.

Cmdr. Dave Hecht, spokesperson for Norfolk Naval Air Force Atlantic, told Hampton, Virginia, ABC affiliate WVEC that all of its helicopters were accounted for, but couldn’t say whether the helicopter may have belonged to another branch of the military.

The accident took place in a residential area near the campus of William and Mary, which warned people to stay away from the area.

Williamsburg is a popular tourist location with Colonial Williamsburg, an historical recreation of the 18th century town, and the amusement park Busch Gardens. The city includes many condominium timeshares.

WILLIAMSBURG — A person died in a condominium building that caught fire after being hit by a helicopter Sunday.

The 10-unit building in the Bristol Commons neighborhood of Williamsburg was gutted by the fire, which still wasn’t deemed under control hours after the crash.

Virginia State Police said there was one confirmed fatality in the building, and search and rescue is still ongoing. The person who died was not the pilot of the helicopter, state police spokeswoman Michelle Anaya said. Other identifying information was not available.

The building in the 1100 block of Settlement Drive was hit around 4:42 p.m., according to Virginia State Police spokeswoman Corinne Geller.

Other details — including how the crash happened, other injuries or type of helicopter — were not available by press time.

Residents who saw and heard the crash said before state police released information that it was a small helicopter that hit the building.

As crews battled the fire, pieces of the helicopter were visible on what was left of the structure. A piece of the building or the helicopter even fell on a firefighter. Much of the building was destroyed or damaged, but it looked to be contained to the one building in the complex.

Crews worked for several hours after the call came in. Along with Williamsburg fire and police personnel, College of William and Mary police, state police and York County’s drone team were at the scene.

The College of William and Mary sent out an alert about the crash, calling it an “aviation incident.” It advised the incident happened near the school’s Dillard Complex and told people to avoid the area.

Ironbound Road, which cuts between the apartment complex and the Dillard Complex, was closed for a couple hours after the crash.

As crews responded, dozens of people gathered around the building to watch.

Brook Sweeney, who lives across the street from the building that caught fire, said the impact sounded like a car crash.

Before that, he said, “I was upstairs when I heard what sounded like a helicopter flying really low overhead. The whole house shook and then I just heard a loud ‘bam’ and the whole house was on fire.”
Firefighters, police respond to aircraft crash reported in Williamsburg

Officials respond Sunday to a reported aircraft crash in a residential area in Williamsburg’s Settlement Drive.

Afterward, he helped out some people who lived in the building, he said, giving them water, clothes if they needed them, and getting them away from the commotion of firefighters working the scene and the people watching.

Donald Johnson, who lives in an apartment in the building that was hit, said, “It was 10 feet away from me. I was downstairs on the first floor when that thing hit and I had never heard a noise like that in my life. I just walked out and looked and got out, I was afraid it would blow up.”

Peggy Weiss also lives in the neighborhood and said she saw a small, rickety-looking helicopter crash in between two buildings.

Police said multiple agencies were working to identify and locate the pilot of the helicopter.

Anaya said crews couldn’t go into the building still around 8:45 p.m. because of hot spots inside. She expected the investigation to continue up to three days.

She did not know how many were displaced, but said the Red Cross was assisting people.

The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board were notified of the crash. The cause of the crash is under investigation.

Story and video ➤ http://www.dailypress.com

Update 8 p.m. Sunday: Virginia State Police have confirmed at least one person is dead after a helicopter crashed into a residential building in Williamsburg Sunday.

Virginia State Police, as well as local and federal agencies, are still working to locate and identify the pilot of the helicopter, state police spokeswoman Corinne Geller said.

Search and recovery efforts are ongoing inside the building, which is located in Bristol Commons in the 1100 block of Settlement Drive.

The cause of the crash is still under investigation.

Update 7:30 p.m. Sunday: The Federal Aviation Administration has arrived at the scene of a helicopter crash in the Bristol Commons neighborhood in Williamsburg.

In a tweet around 7:30 p.m., the Federal Aviation Administration said safety inspectors had arrived on scene and would release details about the crash as soon as information is available.

Update 6:50 p.m. Sunday: Virginia State Police are leading an investigation into a helicopter crash in Williamsburg.

The helicopter crashed into a residential building in the 1100 block of Settlement Drive in Bristol Commons Sunday afternoon, starting a fire in one of the buildings, state police spokeswoman Corinne Geller said.

Police responded to the emergency call at 4:42 p.m., Geller said.

“At this time, state police with the assistance of Williamsburg Police are still assessing the scene to determine what injuries, if any, have occurred and to identify the type of aircraft,” Geller said.

The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration were also on their way to the scene at 6:50 p.m.

Ironbound Road is back open to regular traffic, Williamsburg Police spokesman Maj. Greg Riley said.

Original story:

Authorities are on the scene of an “aviation incident” near the Dillard Complex in Williamsburg.

Fire crews and law enforcement from several localities — including James City County, Williamsburg and York County — are on the scene in the Bristol Commons neighborhood off Ironbound Road.

The crash occurred in the 1100 block of Settlement Drive.

A William & Mary tweet instructed residents to avoid the area. Ironbound Road is closed between Longhill Road and Treyburn Drive.

Several witnesses on scene said they saw a helicopter in distress in the area shortly before hearing sirens.

Paul Leslie, who lives in a building near the location of the crash, said he heard a helicopter “come overhead” that “basically didn’t sound right.”

He witnessed the helicopter crash into one of the buildings in Bristol Commons, heard an explosion, then saw the fire start, he said.

“Everybody here responded very quickly to get people out of the building,” Leslie said.

Leslie believes there are 10 apartments in the building, and he and others banged on all the doors of all the apartments to make sure people were out of the building.

Another resident, Brook Sweeney, has lived across the street from the affected apartment unit since October 2017. He lives with his girlfriend, Kaeley Claredy.

He said he thought the noise he heard was a motor vehicle accident.

“The way my house shook — it shook and shook,” Sweeney said. “It was like nothing I’d ever felt or heard before.”

At 5:55 p.m., Williamsburg Police spokesman Maj. Greg Riley said police were working to clear traffic block on Ironbound Road so it would reopen for regular traffic. He said he hoped the road would be clear between 6:15 and 6:30 p.m.

Story and video ➤ https://wydaily.com

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – At least one person was killed after a helicopter crashed sparked a fire at the Bristol Commons Townhomes near the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg Sunday afternoon.

Virginia State Police said troopers responded to a 911 call about an aircraft crashing into a "residential structure" in the 1100 block of Settlement Drive just before 4:45 p.m.

Officials at the College of William & Mary said the crash happened near the Dillard Complex.

"The impact of the crash caused a fire within the townhouse structure," troopers said.

Photos from Kaeley Clardy show firefighters batting a blaze at the building.

Chopper video from the area from after 6:30 p.m. showed most of the flames had been knocked down and firefighters working on the ground.

WTVR CBS 6 reporter Jake Burns estimated that damage to the complex is “incredibly extensive.”

State police said there was one confirmed fatality inside the townhouse complex as of 8:15 p.m.

"Federal, state and local police, with the assistance of the Williamsburg Fire Department, are working to locate and identify the pilot of the helicopter," troopers said.

A witness told Burns that he will never forgot the sound of the helicopter colliding with the side of this townhouse complex.

"One resident told me he spoke to a man who was 10 feet away from where the aircraft struck," Burns said. "That man was able to get to safety."

That witness suspected that authorities may have known the helicopter was in distress prior since he estimated crews arrived "30 seconds" after the crash. However, there has been no official word if that is the case.

Additionally, Burns said parts of the helicopter were strewn across the complex’ parking lot and driveway.

Troopers are working to determine what type of aircraft crashed into the building.

Officials said the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are responding to the crash scene.

Story and video ➤ https://wtvr.com

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – A helicopter crash sparked a fire at the Bristol Commons Townhomes near the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg Sunday afternoon.

Virginia State Police said troopers responded to a 911 call about an aircraft crashing into a "residential structure" in the 1100 block of Settlement Drive just before 4:45 p.m.

Officials at the College of William & Mary said the crash happened near the Dillard Complex.

"The impact of the crash caused a fire within the townhouse structure," troopers said.

Photos from Kaeley Clardy show firefighters batting a blaze at the building.

Chopper video from the area from after 6:30 p.m. showed most of the flames had been knocked down and firefighters working on the ground.

WTVR CBS 6 reporter Jake Burns estimated that damage to the complex is “incredibly extensive.”

A witness told Burns that he will never forgot the sound of the helicopter colliding with the side of this townhouse complex.

State police with help from Williamsburg Police were still assessing the scene to determine if anyone was injured as of 7:10 p.m.

"One resident told me he spoke to a man who was 10 feet away from where the helicopter struck," Burns said. "That man was able to get to safety."

That witness suspected that authorities may have known the helicopter was in distress prior since he estimated crews arrived "30 seconds" after the crash. However, there has been no official word if that is the case.

Additionally, Burns said parts of the helicopter were strewn across the complex’ parking lot and driveway.

Troopers are working to determine what type of aircraft crashed into the building.

Officials said the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are responding to the crash scene.

Story and video ➤ https://wtvr.com

Williamsburg, Va. — A helicopter crashed Sunday into a residential townhome building in Williamsburg, Virginia near the campus of William & Mary, authorities said.

Williamsburg police told WRAL News that the helicopter went down after 4:30 p.m. in the 1100 block of Settlement Drive. Authorities have not yet said if any injuries or deaths have been reported as a result of the crash.

The communications office of the College of William & Mary tweeted that an "aviation incident" has been reported in a residential area near Dillard Complex.

The impact of the crash ignited a fire at the building, which is surrounded by other residential units.

Video from the scene shows that the roof of a building was apparently sheared off and a large amount of charred debris was visible at the site. Smoke was seen rising from the crash location, and there was a small portion of a roof that was still burning around 6 p.m.

A spokeswoman for the Virginia State Police said the cause of the crash is under investigation.

It was not immediately clear who owned the helicopter.

People who live in the area described hearing a low-flying helicopter before a loud explosion and fire.

"I was downstairs on the first floor when that thing hit and I had never heard a noise like that in my life," Donald Johnson, told the Virginian-Pilot.

Story and video ➤ https://www.wral.com