Robinson R44 II N144SA
6 September 2008 · Marathon, Florida, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 6 September 2008 at about 18:15 local time, a Robinson R44 II registered N144SA, operated by Frezo Financial LLC, was involved in an accident near Marathon, Florida, United States. 4 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 18:15
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Marathon, Florida, United States
- Coordinates
- 24.9697, -80.9036
- Aircraft
- Robinson R44 II
- Registration
- N144SA
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Frezo Financial LLC
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Miami → Marathon
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- NYC08CA305
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to control the helicopter while maneuvering, resulting in loss of tail rotor effectiveness.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
During a personal flight with three passengers onboard, the pilot 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.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Robinson R44 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Mar 2008 | Robinson R44 | Montgomery, New York, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 29 Aug 2008 | Robinson R44 II | Ridgedale, Missouri, United States | Central Illinois Air Corp | Fatal | 2 |
| 15 Jan 2008 | Robinson R44 II | Fenner, New York, United States | Adkins Aviation | Minor injuries | - |
| 22 Jan 2008 | Robinson R44 | Ochopee, Florida, United States | Donald S. Mills | Fatal | 2 |
| 15 May 2008 | Robinson R44 II | Lake Wales, Florida, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 5 Apr 2008 | Robinson R44 | Topeka, Kansas, United States | Topeka Police Department | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Mar 2008 | Cessna 182B | Wildwood, Florida, United States | Henry George Traill | Fatal | 2 |
| 15 Dec 2008 | Bell OH-58C | Osceola County, Florida, United States | Helicopter Applicators, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 13 Dec 2008 | Kimball PITTS MODEL-12 | Weirdales, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 16 Jun 2008 | McKeehan James F ACRODUSTER II SA750 | Panama City, Florida, United States | Kevin G. Gorham | Fatal | 1 |
| 6 May 2008 | Beechcraft 65-A90 | Titusville, Florida, United States | Titusville Drop Zone | No injuries | - |
| 29 Aug 2008 | Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp ) 415-C | Sebring, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |