# Accident 19991017041849A: Robsin R22, Sunny Isles, FL, October 17, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 17, 1999, 12:00 local time
- Place: Sunny Isles, FL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 25.9309° N, 80.1404° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.9309&lon=-80.1404&mi=10
- Aircraft: N83574, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N83574-2013-08-23) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R22 ALPHA (registry code 7640104, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-alpha) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBSIN R22
- Reported engine: LYC O320B2C
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 276 total, 198 in this make and model, 60 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA00LA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA00LA005) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991017041849A

## Narrative

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

(-23) HELICOPTER LOST POWER AT LOW ALTITUDE, MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING 50 FEET OFF-SHORE AT HAULOVER BEACH, 10800 COLLINS AVENUE, MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA-2 OCCUPANTS TAKEN TO AREA HOSPITALS. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION OF WRECKAGE REVEALED "SPRAGUE CLUTCH FAILURE", DISCONNECTING THE MAIN AND TAIL ROTOR FROM THE POWER PLANT, CAUSING LOSS OF LIFT. NTSB IMPOUNDED CLUTCH ASSEMBLY. INVESTIGAION ON GOING. (.4) AFTER ABOUT 1 HOUR OF FLIGHT AT ABOUT 200 FEET OFFSHORE, T HE HELICOPTER WAS OBSERVED TO DESCEND FROM ABOUT 500 FEET AGL, TO ABOUT 200 FEET AGL, AND HEAD DIRECTLY TOWARD THE BEACH. ONCE OVERHEAD THE BEACH, THE PILOT STATED THE CYLINDER HEAD AND OIL TEMPERATURE INDICATIONS STARTED RISING RAPIDLY, AND HE LOOKED FOR A PLACE TO AUTOROTATE. FINDING NO SUITABLE AREA DUE TO THE DENSITY OF BATHERS AND LOSING POWER, THE PILOT ELECTED TO DITCH OFFSHORE IN ABOUT 8 FEET OF WATER. POST CRASH TEST RUN OF THE ENGINE REVEALED NORMAL OPERATION EXCEPT THAT THE MAGNETO TIMING HAD BEEN ADJUSTED AS FAR ADVANCED AS POSSIBLE. FACTORY POST CRASH ANALYSIS OF THE MAIN ROTOR CLUTCH AND SHAFT REVEALED THE CLUTCH HAD SUSTAINED TWO SEVERE OVERTORQUE EVENTS, MOST LI                                                     KELY AS A RESULT OF TWO OR MORE MAIN ROTOR BLADE STRIKES DURING THE ACCIDNET.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB MIA00LA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA00LA005), Oct 17, 1999: Robinson R-22 (N83574), Sunny Isles, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power while maneuvering due to improper ignition timing by unknown person(s) resulting in an emergency descent and collision with the water.

## Other reports on N83574 (1)

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

- [Accident 19830512018939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830512018939A), May 12, 1983: Robsin R22 (N83574), Torrance, CA, Substantial damage. Made hard autorotation landing on a certification flight. Chopped off tail boom. Was over design gross weight.

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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