N4168W – ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II – 2011-03-05 NTSB Accident Report

On March 05, 2011, a Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II (N4168W) was involved in an accident near Weston, FL. The accident resulted in 1 serious injury. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude and physical alertness which resulted in an in-flight collision with the water. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's fatigue.

The pilot stated that he had lack of appetite and sleep during the previous 3 days which made him fatigued. He awoke about 0400, and departed about 0430, for a cross country flight which was flown between 1,000 and 1,200 feet and 102 knots. About 1 hour 25 minutes into the flight, or at 0555, he recalled the sound of water hitting the helicopter and the next thing he remembers was being very still and quiet. He realized he had crashed, released his restraint, and called his girlfriend via cellular phone for help. A search was initiated and he reported being rescued about 1030, then airlifted to a hospital for treatment. He further reported there was no mechanical failure or malfunction of the helicopter, and the cause of the crash was "...due to fatigue."

This accident is documented in NTSB report ERA11CA180. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N4168W.