# Accident 20040317016909A: Robsin R44, Ocala, FL, March 17, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 17, 2004, 00:20 local time
- Place: Ocala, FL
- Airport: Ocala Municipal-Jim Taylor Field
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Vertical (Helicopter Only)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 29.1728° N, 82.2242° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.1728&lon=-82.2242&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7194S, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7194S-2006-06-06) (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 O540*
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 525 total, 525 in this make and model, 5 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA04LA061](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA04LA061) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040317016909A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE TRUE FACTS ARE UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME. INTERVIEWS WITH SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS CLOSE TO THE PILOT DO NOT AGREE WITH PILOTS ACCOUNT. SOMETIME BETWEEN 1200 AM AND 0300AM THE PILOT CRASHED HIS HELICOPTER ON THE TAXIWAY AT THE OCALA AIRPORT. IT IS NOT KNOWN WHETHER THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED DURING LANDING AFTER A FLIGHT OR DURING TAKEOFF AT THE START OF A FLIGHT. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN THE HELICOPTER SETTLED ONTO ITS TRAILER WITH THE RIGHT SKID MISSING THE TRAILER. THE HELICOPTER LANDED ON THE GROUND ON ITS RIGHT SIDE NEXT TO THE TRAILER. THE HELICOPTER RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE, THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO PERSONNEL. THE PILOT AND HIS PASSENGER CALLED A WRECKER AND PICKED UP THE WRECKAGE AND MOVED IT TO HIS HANGAR. THEY CLEANED UP THE ACCIDENT SITE AND LEFT THE AREA WITHOUT REPORTING THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOTS BROTHER IN LAW REPORTED THE ACCIDENT TO THE OCALA POLICE. THE NIGHT OF THE ACCIDENT THE PILOT AND HIS PASSENGER HAD SNUCK OUT OF A DRUG REHAB CENTER IN GAINSVILLE. THE OCALA POLICE FOUND BEER BOTTLES IN A STORM DRAIN NEXT TO THE HANGAR. THE FIRST POLICE OFFICER ON THE SCENE INDICATED THAT HE SMELLED ALCOHOL IN THE HELICOPTER. THE PILOT WAS NOT LOCATED FOR SEVERAL DAYS AND HAS CONTINUED TO BE HARD TO CONTACT.

## 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 MIA04LA061](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA04LA061), Mar 17, 2004: Robinson R44 (N7194S), Ocala, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the pilot to maintain control of the helicopter following a reported loss of engine power after picking up to a hover from a dolly.

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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