N14MY

Substantial
None

Robinson R-44S/N: 1149

Accident Details

Date
Friday, May 19, 2006
NTSB Number
ANC06CA057
Location
Indiantown, FL
Event ID
20060621X00792
Coordinates
27.036388, -80.440002
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
2
Total Aboard
2

Probable Cause and Findings

A hard landing and subsequent nose down when the helicopter pilot misjudged the landing flare during a touchdown autorotation.

Aircraft Information

Registration
Make
ROBINSON
Serial Number
1149
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Model / ICAO
R-44R44
Aircraft Type
Rotorcraft
No. of Engines
1
Seats
4
FAA Model
R44

Registered Owner (Current)

Name
SOUTH FLORIDA HELICOPTERS INC
Address
7501 SW FOX BROWN RD
City
INDIANTOWN
State / Zip Code
FL 34956-9743
Country
United States

Analysis

The private certificated helicopter pilot reported to the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC) that he had practiced two or three autorotations at a grass/turf covered runway that terminated with a power recovery to a hover during a CFR Part 91 personal flight. He decided to perform a touch-down autorotation, and said that he pulled excessive collective pitch during the termination of the maneuver, and accelerated too much while leveling the helicopter at the conclusion of the deceleration flare. The helicopter touched down hard and tilted forward onto its nose, the forward portion of the right skid tube fractured, and the main rotor blades struck the ground and the tailboom.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ANC06CA057