Summary
On September 06, 2008, a Robinson R44 II (N144SA) was involved in an incident near Marathon, FL. All 4 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot's failure to control the helicopter while maneuvering, resulting in loss of tail rotor effectiveness.
During a personal flight with three passengers onboard, the pilot of the Robinson R44 II decided to examine more closely some fish which the occupants spotted from the helicopter while they were about 320 feet above the water. The pilot turned the helicopter to the right 20 degrees and "settled forward into the wind" for hover at approximately 200 feet. The helicopter however, continued to turn to the right and the pilot was unable to arrest the turn. He then "made the call," to set the helicopter down and inflated the floats. Upon touchdown on the surface of the water the helicopter "flipped to the left" and became partially submerged. None of the four occupants were injured. The helicopter received substantial damage to the fuselage and tail boom.
This incident is documented in NTSB report NYC08CA305. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N144SA.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's failure to control the helicopter while maneuvering, resulting in loss of tail rotor effectiveness.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
During a personal flight with three passengers onboard, the pilot of the Robinson R44 II decided to examine more closely some fish which the occupants spotted from the helicopter while they were about 320 feet above the water. The pilot turned the helicopter to the right 20 degrees and "settled forward into the wind" for hover at approximately 200 feet. The helicopter however, continued to turn to the right and the pilot was unable to arrest the turn. He then "made the call," to set the helicopter down and inflated the floats. Upon touchdown on the surface of the water the helicopter "flipped to the left" and became partially submerged. None of the four occupants were injured. The helicopter received substantial damage to the fuselage and tail boom. Examination of the helicopter by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any preimpact malfunctions. At the time of the accident, the helicopter was close to gross weight, the wind was 080 degrees at 5 knots, and the temperature was 31 degrees Celsius.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# NYC08CA305