N7040U – ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44 – 2014-02-10 NTSB Accident Report

On February 10, 2014, a Robinson Helicopter R44 (N7040U) was involved in an incident near Orlando, FL. All 1 person 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 inadequate preflight inspection in which he failed to remove the tail rotor covers, which resulted in the failure of the tail rotor drive shaft during engine start.

According to the pilot, while conducting a preflight inspection, he overlooked the removal of the tail rotor covers. He started the helicopter and shortly thereafter he heard a "snap", and the helicopter began to "shake". The helicopter was immediately shutdown and a visual inspection revealed substantial damage to the tail rotor drive shaft. The pilot reported no other preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

This incident is documented in NTSB report ERA14CA143. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N7040U.