# Incident 19960918033579I: Robsin R22BETA, Belle Glade, FL, September 18, 1996

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 18, 1996, 07:28 local time
- Place: Belle Glade, FL
- Phase of flight: Hovering
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 26.6922° N, 80.6660° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Belle Glade, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.6922&lon=-80.6660&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2579W, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2579W-2006-11-09) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA (registry code 7640110, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBSIN R22BETA
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 7,000 total, 400 in this make and model, 85 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960918033579I

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

NARRATIVE: PILOT MICHAEL HUIZINGA AND PASSENGER^PRIVACY DATA^LEFT THEIR CAMPSITE AT BELLE GLADE RV PARK IN A ROBINSON R-22 (N2579W) AT APPROXIMATELY 0700 ON SEPTEMBER 18, 1996. THE PILOT REPORTS THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR, VISIBILITY BETTER THAN 5 SM, WINDS CALM AND THE TEMPERATURE IN THE LOW 70'S. THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS TO SPOT ALLIGATORS. THE FLIGHT WAS ROUTINE FOR THE FIRST 30 MINUTES. WHILE HOVERING OVER THE WATER AT APPROXIMATELY 4-5 FEET, THE PILOT AND PASSENGER HEARD A POP. THE PILOT REPORTS THAT THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO ROLL LEFT AND HE COUNTERACTED WITH RIGHT LATERAL CYCLIC INPUTS. THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED AND STRUCK THE WATER IN A VERY SLIGHT RIGHT NOSEDOWN ATTITUDE. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE WATER AND THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED ON ITS RIGHT SIDE IN APPROXIMATELY 8 FEET OF WATER. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER EXITED WITHOUT DIFFICULTY AND SAT ON THE SIDE OF THE HELICOPTER UNTIL RESCUED BY THE PALM BEACH SHERIFF DEPARTMENT. POST CRASH EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT REVEAL ANY OBVIOUS MECHANICAL FAILURE THAT COULD ACCOUNT FOR THIS INCIDENT. A BLACK MARK ON THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE INDICATED THE POSSIBILITY THAT A BIRD STRIKE MAY HAVE CAUSED THIS INCIDENT. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^    ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^

## Other reports on N2579W (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19900511016499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900511016499A), May 11, 1990: Robsin R22BETA (N2579W), Atlanta, GA, Substantial damage. Student failed to use proper control for practice hover autorotation. Skid touched in a turn. Helicopter rolled over

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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