What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Narrative: on January 22, 1998, about 2230 eastern standard time, a Robinson R-44 helicopter, N972SA, experienced a partial cyclic control stick failure while hovering to land at the Tamiami Airport, Miami, Florida. The helicopter was operated under the provisions of title 14 CFR part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The private helicopter pilot was not injured and the helicopter sustained no damage. According to the pilot, while attempting to land he found that he was unable to roll left using the cyclic. The pilot made a run-on landing without further incident. Preliminary examination of the cyclic control stick found that the lateral cyclic trim assembly spring had become disconnected.
As the FAA filed it
NARRATIVE: ON JANUARY 22, 1998, ABOUT 2230 EASTERN STANDARD TIME, A ROBINSON R-44 HELICOPTER, N972SA, EXPERIENCED A PARTIAL CYCLIC CONTROL STICK FAILURE WHILE HOVERING TO LAND AT THE TAMIAMI AIRPORT, MIAMI, FLORIDA. THE HELICOPTER WAS OPERATED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CFR PART 91, AND VISUAL FLIGHT RULES. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE LOCAL FLIGHT. THE PRIVATE HELICOPTER PILOT WAS NOT INJURED AND THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED NO DAMAGE. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND HE FOUND THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO ROLL LEFT USING THE CYCLIC. THE PILOT MADE A RUN-ON LANDING WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF THE CYCLIC CONTROL STICK FOUND THAT THE LATERAL CYCLIC TRIM ASSEMBLY SPRING HAD BECOME DISCONNECTED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.