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20060519015789A

Accident · Substantial damage
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FAA accident report · Robsin R44 · Indiantown, FL · May 19, 2006

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

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Date
May 19, 2006 · 16:05 local
Place
Indiantown, FL
Airport
Indiantown Airport
Phase of flight
Sfl Autorotation
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage
Substantial damage
Aircraft
N14MY
NTSB investigation
NTSBANC06CA057
Reported as
Robsin R44
People aboard
2
Fatal injuries
0
Pilot’s flight hours
3,000 total
N14MYRegistered now · Robinson Helicopter R44S/N 1149Airframe modelRobinson Helicopter R44Engine modelLycoming 0-540 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) On may 19, 2006 a Robinson R44 helicopter N14MY, registered to the pilot privacy data omitted was flying from witham field airport (kusa) to Indiantown Airport (X58). There were two individuals on board for this day 14 CFR 91 VFR flight. On return to X58 the pilot stated that he conducted an autorotation to runway 31 with a power recovery. After a successful autorotation manuever, a second was attempted. The pilot stated that he intended to try one all the way to the ground. On the attempt, the pilot stated he accelerated too much before coming out of the flare. Upon landing, the right forward skid broke and the main rotor blade contacted the ground. During this time, the main rotor struck the tailboom cutting it off just forward of the tail rotor gearbox. The witness on board stated that upon landing the back of the skids contacted the ground first and rocked the helicopter forward onto the front skids. The main rotor then contacted the tailboom cutting it off. The helicopter came to a rest upright and received substantial damage. There were no injuries to either occupant.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ON MAY 19, 2006 A ROBINSON R44 HELICOPTER N14MY, REGISTERED TO THE PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA O^ WAS FLYING FROM WITHAM FIELD AIRPORT (KUSA) TO INDIANTOWN AIRPORT (X58). THERE WERE TWO INDIVIDUALS ON BOARD FOR THIS DAY 14 CFR 91 VFR FLIGHT. ON RETURN TO X58 THE PILOT STATED THAT HE CONDUCTED AN AUTOROTATION TO RUNWAY 31 WITH A POWER RECOVERY. AFTER A SUCCESSFUL AUTOROTATION MANUEVER, A SECOND WAS ATTEMPTED. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE INTENDED TO TRY ONE ALL THE WAY TO THE GROUND. ON THE ATTEMPT, THE PILOT STATED HE ACCELERATED TOO MUCH BEFORE COMING OUT OF THE FLARE. UPON LANDING, THE RIGHT FORWARD SKID BROKE AND THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE CONTACTED THE GROUND. DURING THIS TIME, THE MAIN ROTOR STRUCK THE TAILBOOM CUTTING IT OFF JUST FORWARD OF THE TAIL ROTOR GEARBOX. THE WITNESS ON BOARD STATED THAT UPON LANDING THE BACK OF THE SKIDS CONTACTED THE GROUND FIRST AND ROCKED THE HELICOPTER FORWARD ONTO THE FRONT SKIDS. THE MAIN ROTOR THEN CONTACTED THE TAILBOOM CUTTING IT OFF. THE HELICOPTER CAME TO A REST UPRIGHT AND RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO EITHER OCCUPANT.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ANC06CA057Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportIndiantown, FLA hard landing and subsequent nose down when the helicopter pilot misjudged the landing flare during a touchdown autorotation.May 19, 2006 · Substantial damage