# Accident 19991019030699A: Robsin R44, Ft Lauderdale, FL, October 19, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 19, 1999, 17:05 local time
- Place: Ft Lauderdale, FL
- Airport: Ft Lauderdale Executive
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Power On Descent (Rotorcraft)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 26.1895° N, 80.1698° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.1895&lon=-80.1698&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8364Z, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8364Z) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 (registry code 7640120, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540 series (registry code 41532, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBSIN R44
- Reported engine: LYC O540F1B5
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,973 total, 50 in this make and model, 200 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA00LA011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA00LA011) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991019030699A

## Narrative

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

(.19) ON OCTOBER 19, 1999, ABOUT 1708 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A ROBINSON R-44, N8364Z, REGISTERED TO HELIFLIGHT LEASING, INC., OPERATING AS A TITLE 14 CFR PART 91 SALES DEMONSTRATION FLIGHT, SUSTAINED A MAIN ROTOR STRIKE AND SEPARATION OF THE TAIL BOOM UPON LANDING AT FORT LAUDERDALE EXECUTIVE AIRPORT, FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED THE SAME AIRPORT ABOUT 1 HOUR BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. ACCORDING TO THE CHIEF PILOT OF HELIFLIGHT LEASING, THE PILOT TOLD HIM THAT HE WAS IN HOVERING FLIGHT PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN, AND AS HE BEGAN SETTLING FOR TOUCHDOWN, THE HELICOPTER WENT INTO A RIGHT BANK AND MADE FIRST GROUND CONTACT WITH THE FORWARD END OF THE RIGHT LANDING SKID, FOLLOWED BY A MAIN ROTOR STRIKE OF THE GROUND AND TAIL BOOM. THE TAIL BOOM WAS SEVERED. THE PILOT FURTHER STATED THAT HE THOUGHT THERE WERE NO EXTERNAL FACTORS INVOLVED SUCH AS WIND, OTHER AIRCRAFT PROPELLER OR ROTOR WASH, OR MECHANICAL PROBLEMS, AND THAT IT WAS PROBABLY A QUESTION OF BAD TECHNIQUE.                                                                                                                                                     (.4)THE PILOT STATED THAT AS HE TRANSITIONED FROM HOVER TO LAND ING DURING THE SALES DEMONSTRATION FLIGHT, THE HELICOPTER BOUNCED 1 TO 2 INCHES AFTER TOUCHDOWN, AND HE MISTAKENLY APPLIED RIGHT CYCLIC. THE MAIN ROTOR STRUCK THE GROUND AND SEVERED THE TAIL BOOM, YAWING THE ROTORCRAFT 180 DEGREES AND DAMAGING THE LANDING SKIDS.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          (-23)THE FLIGHT WAS A SALES DEMONSTRATION FLIGHT. THE HELICOPTER IS OWNED BY HELIFLIGHT LEASING, INC. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS HOVERING FOR A LANDING-THE SKID TOUCHED THE GROUND AND THE NEXT THING HE KNEW THE MAIN ROTOR HIT THE GROUND AND BROKE. THE TAIL BOOM WAS SEPARATED FROM THE A/C. HE SAID THAT THERE WERE NO EXTERNAL FACTORS INVOLVED, I.E., WIND, OTHER A/C, ETC. THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS EVIDENT. HE STATED THAT HE GUESSED IT WAS JUST BAD TECHNIQUE.

## 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 MIA00LA011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA00LA011), Oct 19, 1999: Robinson R-44 (N8364Z), Ft. Lauderdale, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The PIC's improper use of cyclic control during landing which resulted in a main rotor strike of the terrain and the rotorcraft's tail boom.

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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