# Accident 20040904027879A: Robsin R22BETA, St Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, September 4, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 4, 2004, 10:30 local time
- Place: St Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Autorot Descent (Rotorcraft)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 18.3356° N, 64.8956° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=18.3356&lon=-64.8956&mi=10
- Aircraft: N176FM (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: ROBSIN R22BETA
- Reported engine: LYC O360*
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA04LA131](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA04LA131) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040904027879A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON SEPTEMBER 4, 2004, AT APPROXIMATELY 1030 A ROBINSON HELICOPTER R-22 BETA OWNED BY MSE AIR GROUP (Q6WA) CRASHED IN WATER AFTER INITIATING THE TAKE OFF PROFILE NEAR CROWN BAY CRUISE SHIP DOCK IN ST. THOMAS. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, AT THE MOMENT OF FAILURE THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON A SSE. AFTER INITIATING THE TAKE OFF PROFILE (APPROXIMATELY 10-15 SECONDS AFTER HOVERING MANEUVER WHICH LASTED LESS THAN 5 SECONDS) A STRONG JOLT TO THE RIGHT WAS FELT, THE PILOT RESPONDED BY APPLYING FULL LEFT PEDAL. THE AIRCRAFT KEPT TURNING TO THE RIGHT AND THE PILOT DECIDED TO LAND INTO THE WATER. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT THERE WERE TWO POB.

## 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 MIA04LA131](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA04LA131), Sep 4, 2004: Robinson R22 Beta (N176FM), St. Thomas, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the pilot-in-command to comply with performance data related to the recommended takeoff profile and his failure to perform remedial action following reduced tailrotor effectiveness,…

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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