Robinson R44 N7102Z

Summary

On 31 May 2023 at about 17:00 local time, a Robinson R44 registered N7102Z, operated by Michigan Helicopters LLC, was involved in an accident near Pontiac, Michigan, United States. 2 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.

Date

31 May 2023 at 17:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Pontiac, Michigan, United States

Nearest airport

Oakland County Intl (PTK)

Coordinates

42.6656, -83.4205

Aircraft

Robinson R44

Registration

N7102Z

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2013

Engines

1

Operator

Michigan Helicopters LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Waterford → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN23LA219

Nobody was injured.

The flight crew’s inadequate compensation for gusting wind, and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action, which resulted in impact with the ground.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

A flight instructor and a private pilot receiving instruction were performing a hovering maneuver as part of a flight lesson. During an exchange of the flight controls, a gust of wind moved the helicopter backward. The flight instructor reassumed control of the helicopter, but the tail rotor assembly struck the ground and separated from the helicopter. He then performed a hovering autorotation, the helicopter landed upright on its skids and the occupants egressed the helicopter without injury. The ground strike resulted in substantial damage to the tailboom assembly. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.