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Location:
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Immokalee, Florida
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Accident Number:
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ERA23LA350
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Date & Time:
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August 26, 2023, 11:45 Local
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Registration:
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N4147Q
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Aircraft:
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ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44
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Aircraft Damage:
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Substantial
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Defining Event:
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Loss of control in flight
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Injuries:
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1 Serious, 2 Minor
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Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Instructional
Analysis
The flight instructor stated that the accident flight was an introductory flight for a new student pilot. He stated that during an introductory flight, it was normal for a student pilot to take the cyclic control and get familiar with the “feel” of the helicopter. During the accident pilot, the student pilot hovered the helicopter at 10 ft above ground level for about 10 minutes with no anomalies, then suddenly, the student pilot pushed the cyclic forward and to the right “very fast.” The flight instructor could not regain control before the main rotor contacted the ground. The helicopter rolled to the right and came to rest on tits right side, sustaining substantial damage to the main rotor mast, tail rotor, and fuselage. The flight instructor stated 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 flight instructor’s inadequate supervision of the student pilot during hover flight, which resulted in main rotor blade contact with the ground after the student pilot applied a sudden control input.
Findings
Personnel issues - Monitoring other person - Instructor/check pilot
Aircraft - Lateral/bank control - Not attained/maintained
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Factual Information
History of Flight
Maneuvering-hover Loss of control in flight (Defining event)
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Flight instructor Information
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Certificate:
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Commercial; Flight instructor
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Age:
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47,Male
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Airplane Rating(s):
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None
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Seat Occupied:
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Left
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Other Aircraft Rating(s):
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Helicopter
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Restraint Used:
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3-point
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Instrument Rating(s):
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None
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Second Pilot Present:
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Yes
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Instructor Rating(s):
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Helicopter
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Toxicology Performed:
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|
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Medical Certification:
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Class 2 Without waivers/limitations
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Last FAA Medical Exam:
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May 10, 2022
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Occupational Pilot:
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Yes
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Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
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April 1, 2023
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Flight Time:
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3383 hours (Total, all aircraft), 3100 hours (Total, this make and model), 3328 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 26 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 8 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft),
1.5 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
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Student pilot Information
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Certificate:
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None Age:
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Airplane Rating(s):
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None Seat Occupied:
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Right
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Other Aircraft Rating(s):
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None Restraint Used:
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3-point
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Instrument Rating(s):
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None Second Pilot Present:
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Yes
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Instructor Rating(s):
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None Toxicology Performed:
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|
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Medical Certification:
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None None Last FAA Medical Exam:
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Occupational Pilot:
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No Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
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Flight Time:
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0 hours (Total, all aircraft), 0 hours (Total, this make and model)
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Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
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Aircraft Make:
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ROBINSON HELICOPTER
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Registration:
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N4147Q
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Model/Series:
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R44 NO SERIES
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Aircraft Category:
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Helicopter
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Year of Manufacture:
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2008
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Amateur Built:
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Airworthiness Certificate:
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Normal
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Serial Number:
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1844
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Landing Gear Type:
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Skid
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Seats:
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4
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Date/Type of Last Inspection:
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June 29, 2023 Annual
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Certified Max Gross Wt.:
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2400 lbs
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Time Since Last Inspection:
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Engines:
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1 Reciprocating
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Airframe Total Time:
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2000 Hrs as of last inspection
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Engine Manufacturer:
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Lycoming
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ELT:
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Not installed
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Engine Model/Series:
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O-540
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Registered Owner:
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AIRMAN HELICOPTER INC
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Rated Power:
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200 Horsepower
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Operator:
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On file
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Operating Certificate(s) Held:
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None
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Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
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Conditions at Accident Site:
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Visual (VMC)
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Condition of Light:
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Day
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Observation Facility, Elevation:
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RSW,27 ft msl
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Distance from Accident Site:
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20 Nautical Miles
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Observation Time:
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11:53 Local
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Direction from Accident Site:
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289°
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Lowest Cloud Condition:
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Clear
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Visibility
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10 miles
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Lowest Ceiling:
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None
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Visibility (RVR):
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|
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Wind Speed/Gusts:
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9 knots / 16 knots
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Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:
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None / None
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Wind Direction:
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60°
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Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
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N/A / N/A
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Altimeter Setting:
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29.86 inches Hg
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Temperature/Dew Point:
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32°C / 22°C
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Precipitation and Obscuration:
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No Obscuration; No Precipitation
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Departure Point:
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Immokalee, FL
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Type of Flight Plan Filed:
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None
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Destination:
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Immokalee, FL
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Type of Clearance:
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None
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Departure Time:
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Type of Airspace:
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Class G
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Airport Information
Airport:
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IMMOKALEE RGNL IMM
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Runway Surface Type:
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Asphalt
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Airport Elevation:
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37 ft msl
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Runway Surface Condition:
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Dry
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Runway Used:
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36
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IFR Approach:
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None
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Runway Length/Width:
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4550 ft / 150 ft
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VFR Approach/Landing:
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Traffic pattern
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Wreckage and Impact Information
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Crew Injuries:
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2 Minor
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Aircraft Damage:
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Substantial
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Passenger Injuries:
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1 Serious
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Aircraft Fire:
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None
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Ground Injuries:
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Aircraft Explosion:
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None
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Total Injuries:
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1 Serious, 2 Minor
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Latitude, Longitude:
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26.429063,-81.40478
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Administrative Information
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Investigator In Charge (IIC):
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Boggs, Daniel
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Additional Participating Persons:
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Juan Garcia; FAA/FSDO; Miramar, FL
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Original Publish Date:
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November 9, 2023
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Investigation Class:
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Class 4
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Note:
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The NTSB did not travel to the scene of this accident.
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Investigation Docket:
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https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192947
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The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is an independent federal agency charged by Congress with investigating every civil aviation accident in the United States and significant events in other modes of transportation— railroad, transit, highway, marine, pipeline, and commercial space. We determine the probable causes of the accidents and events we investigate, and issue safety recommendations aimed at preventing future occurrences. In addition, we conduct transportation safety research studies and offer information and other assistance to family members and survivors for each accident or event we investigate. We also serve as the appellate authority for enforcement actions involving aviation and mariner certificates issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and US Coast Guard, and we adjudicate appeals of civil penalty actions taken by the FAA.
The NTSB does not assign fault or blame for an accident or incident; rather, as specified by NTSB regulation, “accident/incident investigations are fact-finding proceedings with no formal issues and no adverse parties … and are not conducted for the purpose of determining the rights or liabilities of any person” (Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations section 831.4). Assignment of fault or legal liability is not relevant to the NTSB’s statutory mission to improve transportation safety by investigating accidents and incidents and issuing safety recommendations. In addition, statutory language prohibits the admission into evidence or use of any part of an NTSB report related to an accident in a civil action for damages resulting from a matter mentioned in the report (Title 49 United States Code section 1154(b)). A factual report that may be admissible under 49 United States Code section 1154(b) is available here.
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