Location: Miami, Florida
Date & Time: February 1, 2024, 18:34 Local
Aircraft: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II
Defining Event:
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Other work use
Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)
Injuries:
Accident Number: ERA24LA118
Registration: N521LS
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
4 None
Analysis
During an air tour flight at night, the pilot of the helicopter noted that the oil pressure and temperature gauges were displaying indications that were in the “red area,” so he decided to perform a precautionary landing to a closed helipad. During the precautionary landing, while maneuvering the helicopter just prior to touchdown, the tail rotor contacted a plastic pipe that protruded up about 2 ft from the ground. The pilot further described that it was very dark and that he was unable to see the pipe. Following the tail rotor strike, the helicopter landed hard, deforming the landing skids. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer during the accident.
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be: Tail rotor contact with an unseen object while performing a precautionary landing to a closed helipad at night.
Findings
Environmental issues Hidden/submerged object - Effect on equipment
Environmental issues Dark - Effect on operation
Factual Information
History of Flight
Maneuvering-hover Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) (Defining event)
Landing Hard landing
Pilot Information
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Certificate:
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Commercial
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Age:
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54,Male
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Airplane Rating(s):
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None
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Seat Occupied:
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Right
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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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No
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Instructor Rating(s):
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None
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Toxicology Performed:
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|
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Medical Certification:
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Class 2 With waivers/limitations
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Last FAA Medical Exam:
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March 1, 2023
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Occupational Pilot:
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Yes
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Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
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March 5, 2023
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Flight Time:
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520 hours (Total, all aircraft), 300 hours (Total, this make and model), 400 hours (Pilot In
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|
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Command, all aircraft), 90 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 33 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft),
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2 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
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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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N521LS
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COMPANY
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|
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Model/Series:
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R44 II
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Aircraft Category:
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Helicopter
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Year of Manufacture:
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2015
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Amateur Built:
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|
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Airworthiness Certificate:
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Normal
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Serial Number:
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13907
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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
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October 8, 2023 100 hour
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Certified Max Gross Wt.:
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2500 lbs
|
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Inspection:
|
|
|
|
|
Time Since Last Inspection:
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Engines:
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1
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Airframe Total Time:
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2159.8 Hrs at time of accident
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Engine Manufacturer:
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|
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ELT:
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Not installed
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Engine Model/Series:
|
|
|
Registered Owner:
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GLOBAL AERIALS INC
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Rated Power:
|
|
|
Operator:
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On file
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Operating Certificate(s)
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None
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|
|
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Held:
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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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Night
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Observation Facility, Elevation:
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KMIA
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Distance from Accident Site:
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8 Nautical Miles
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|
Observation Time:
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19:53 Local
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Direction from Accident Site:
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|
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Lowest Cloud Condition:
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Scattered
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Visibility
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10 miles
|
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Lowest Ceiling:
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Broken / 5500 ft AGL
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Visibility (RVR):
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|
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Wind Speed/Gusts:
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3 knots /
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Turbulence Type
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None / None
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|
|
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Forecast/Actual:
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|
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Wind Direction:
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320°
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Turbulence Severity
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N/A / N/A
|
|
|
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Forecast/Actual:
|
|
|
Altimeter Setting:
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30.07 inches Hg
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Temperature/Dew Point:
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20°C / 12°C
|
|
Precipitation and Obscuration:
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No Obscuration; No Precipitation
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|
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Departure Point:
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Pembroke Pines, FL (HWO)
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Type of Flight Plan Filed:
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None
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Destination:
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Pembroke Pines, FL (HWO)
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Type of Clearance:
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None
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|
Departure Time:
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18:35 Local
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Type of Airspace:
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Class G
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Wreckage and Impact Information
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Crew Injuries:
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1 None
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Aircraft Damage:
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Substantial
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Passenger
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3 None
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Aircraft Fire:
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None
|
|
Injuries:
|
|
|
|
|
Ground Injuries:
|
|
Aircraft Explosion:
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None
|
|
Total Injuries:
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4 None
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Latitude,
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25.784129,-80.173595(est)
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|
|
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Longitude:
|
|
Administrative Information
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Investigator In Charge (IIC):
|
Boggs, Daniel
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Additional Participating
|
Ivan Redford; FAA/FSDO; Miramar, FL
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|
Persons:
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|
|
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Original Publish Date:
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April 12, 2024
|
|
Last Revision Date:
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|
|
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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=193827
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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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