|
Location:
|
Bradenton, Florida
|
Accident Number:
|
ERA23LA228
|
|
Date & Time:
|
May 11, 2023, 09:27 Local
|
Registration:
|
N62HT
|
Aircraft: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Abnormal runway contact
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
Analysis
The pilot of the helicopter reported that while he was on approach to land, he attempted to slow his descent by pulling aft on the cyclic and increased the collective pitch. The low rotor rpm horn sounded as he was beginning to hover in ground effect, and he then began to fly forward slowly. At 20 knots, the low rotor rpm horn sounded again, and his altitude increased to 40 ft above ground level. The rotor speed did not recover, and the helicopter descended until it landed on an uneven berm. The helicopter then pitched forward, the main rotor blades impacted the ground, and the helicopter rolled onto its left side. The helicopter’s tail boom was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be: The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate rotor rpm during landing which resulted in a premature landing on uneven ground and a subsequent rollover.
Findings
Personnel issues - Aircraft control - Pilot
Aircraft - Main rotor blade system - Capability exceeded
Environmental issues - Sloped/uneven terrain - Effect on operation
|
Factual Information
History of Flight
Landing Abnormal runway contact (Defining event)
|
Pilot Information
|
Certificate:
|
Private
|
Age:
|
32,Male
|
|
Airplane Rating(s):
|
Single-engine land
|
Seat Occupied:
|
Right
|
|
Other Aircraft Rating(s):
|
Helicopter
|
Restraint Used:
|
4-point
|
|
Instrument Rating(s):
|
None
|
Second Pilot Present:
|
No
|
|
Instructor Rating(s):
|
None
|
Toxicology Performed:
|
|
|
Medical Certification:
|
Class 2 Without waivers/limitations
|
Last FAA Medical Exam:
|
February 6, 2023
|
|
Occupational Pilot:
|
No
|
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
|
February 26, 2023
|
|
Flight Time:
|
78.1 hours (Total, all aircraft), 78.1 hours (Total, this make and model), 44.1 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 46.6 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 7.9 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft)
|
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
|
Aircraft Make:
|
ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY
|
Registration:
|
N62HT
|
|
Model/Series:
|
R44 II
|
Aircraft Category:
|
Helicopter
|
|
Year of Manufacture:
|
2014
|
Amateur Built:
|
|
|
Airworthiness Certificate:
|
Normal
|
Serial Number:
|
13709
|
|
Landing Gear Type:
|
Skid
|
Seats:
|
4
|
|
Date/Type of Last Inspection:
|
May 7, 2023 100 hour
|
Certified Max Gross Wt.:
|
2500 lbs
|
|
Time Since Last Inspection:
|
|
Engines:
|
1 Reciprocating
|
|
Airframe Total Time:
|
3933.51 Hrs at time of accident
|
Engine Manufacturer:
|
Lycoming
|
|
ELT:
|
Installed
|
Engine Model/Series:
|
IO-540-AE1A5
|
|
Registered Owner:
|
|
Rated Power:
|
245 Horsepower
|
|
Operator:
|
|
Operating Certificate(s) Held:
|
None
|
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
|
Conditions at Accident Site:
|
Visual (VMC)
|
Condition of Light:
|
Day
|
|
Observation Facility, Elevation:
|
SRQ,17 ft msl
|
Distance from Accident Site:
|
13 Nautical Miles
|
|
Observation Time:
|
09:53 Local
|
Direction from Accident Site:
|
253°
|
|
Lowest Cloud Condition:
|
Clear
|
Visibility
|
10 miles
|
|
Lowest Ceiling:
|
None
|
Visibility (RVR):
|
|
|
Wind Speed/Gusts:
|
9 knots /
|
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:
|
None / None
|
|
Wind Direction:
|
120°
|
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
|
N/A / N/A
|
|
Altimeter Setting:
|
30.04 inches Hg
|
Temperature/Dew Point:
|
28°C / 20°C
|
|
Precipitation and Obscuration:
|
No Obscuration; No Precipitation
|
|
|
Departure Point:
|
Sarasota, FL (SRQ)
|
Type of Flight Plan Filed:
|
None
|
|
Destination:
|
Bradenton, FL
|
Type of Clearance:
|
None
|
|
Departure Time:
|
09:10 Local
|
Type of Airspace:
|
Class G
|
Wreckage and Impact Information
|
Crew Injuries:
|
1 None
|
Aircraft Damage:
|
Substantial
|
|
Passenger Injuries:
|
|
Aircraft Fire:
|
None
|
|
Ground Injuries:
|
N/A
|
Aircraft Explosion:
|
None
|
|
Total Injuries:
|
1 None
|
Latitude, Longitude:
|
27.465023,-82.325029(est)
|
Administrative Information
|
Investigator In Charge (IIC):
|
Mccarter, Lawrence
|
|
Additional Participating Persons:
|
Christopher Oaks; FAA FSDO; Tampa, FL
|
|
|
Original Publish Date:
|
July 7, 2023 Investigation Class:
|
4
|
|
Note:
|
The NTSB did not travel to the scene of this accident.
|
|
|
Investigation Docket:
|
https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=149067
|
|
READ MORE ROTOR PRO: https://justhelicopters.com/Magazine
WATCH ROTOR PRO YOUTUBE CHANNEL: https://buff.ly/3Md0T3y
You can also find us on
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rotorpro1
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/rotorpro1
Twitter - https://twitter.com/justhelicopters
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/rotorpro1