# Accident 20040123011189A: Robsin R44, Vero Beach, FL, January 23, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 23, 2004, 05:00 local time
- Place: Vero Beach, FL
- Airport: Vero Beach Municipal
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Aerial Taxi To Tkof/Rtrcrft
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 27.6556° N, 80.4181° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.6556&lon=-80.4181&mi=10
- Aircraft: N77KK, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N77KK-2005-10-05) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 (registry code 7640120, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540F1 SERIE (registry code 41531, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540f1-serie) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBSIN R44
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,800 total, 341 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA04CA048](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA04CA048) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040123011189A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE PILOT OF N77KK WAS REPOSITIONING THE HELICOPTER FOR DEPARTURE, DURING HOVER TAXI THE LEFT SKID HIT A 2-FOOT HIGH HEDGEROW. THIS IMPACT CAUSES THE HELICOPTER NOSE TO PITCH UP AND THE TAIL ROTOR TO PITCH DOWN. THE TAIL ROTOR IMPACTED THE GROUND AND STARTED A CLOCKWISE ROTATION; AT THAT POINT THE HELICOPTER EXPERIENCED A DYNAMIC ROLLOVER.

## 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 MIA04CA048](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA04CA048), Jan 23, 2004: Robinson R44 (N77KK), Vero Beach, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the pilot to maintain clearance with bushed resulting in in-flight contact and susequent dynamic roll-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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