Robinson R44 N4147Q
26 August 2023 · Immokalee, Florida, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 26 August 2023 at about 15:45 local time, a Robinson R44 registered N4147Q was involved in an accident near Immokalee, Florida, United States. 3 people were on board and one was seriously injured, 2 had minor injuries. 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 15:45
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Immokalee, Florida, United States
- Nearest airport
- Immokalee Rgnl (IMM)
- Coordinates
- 26.4291, -81.4048
- Aircraft
- Robinson R44
- Registration
- N4147Q
- Category
- Helicopter
- Year built
- 2008
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ERA23LA350
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
Probable cause
The flight instructor’s inadequate supervision of the student pilot during hover flight, which resulted in main rotor blade contact with the ground after the student pilot applied a sudden control input.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The flight instructor stated that the accident flight was an introductory flight for a new student pilot. He stated that during an introductory flight, it was normal for a student pilot to take the cyclic control and get familiar with the “feel” of the helicopter. During the accident pilot, the student pilot hovered the helicopter at 10 ft above ground level for about 10 minutes with no anomalies, then suddenly, the student pilot pushed the cyclic forward and to the right “very fast.” The flight instructor could not regain control before the main rotor contacted the ground. The helicopter rolled to the right and came to rest on tits right side, sustaining substantial damage to the main rotor mast, tail rotor, and fuselage. The flight instructor stated there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Robinson R44 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 May 2023 | Robinson R44 II | Skwentna, Alaska, United States | Willow Creek Aviation | Minor injuries | - |
| 11 May 2023 | Robinson R44 II | Bradenton, Florida, United States | Registration Pending | No injuries | - |
| 4 Jul 2023 | Robinson R44 | Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 17 Mar 2023 | Robinson R44 | Sao Paulo, Brazil | - | Fatal | 4 |
| 6 Dec 2023 | Robinson R44 II | Calexico, California, United States | Merten Aviation Services LLC | No injuries | - |
| 8 Jan 2023 | Robinson R44 | Hamilton Island, Australia | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Aug 2023 | Jamros Robert L Jr CHALLENGER II | Port Orange, Florida, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 14 Mar 2023 | Beechcraft 35-B33 | Scottsmoor, Florida, United States | Honour Aviation LLC | Serious injuries | - |
| 31 Jan 2023 | Green Richard H VAN'S RV7A | Williston, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 28 Nov 2023 | Lancair 235 | Stuart, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 3 Jan 2023 | Cessna 172N | Opa-locka, Florida, United States | Skyduo Flight Academy LLC. | No injuries | - |
| 26 Sep 2023 | Dorr Dan W SEQUOIA F.8L FALCO | Sanford, Florida, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |