20060930021769A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Robsin R44 · Beaufort, NC · September 30, 2006

Date: September 30, 2006 · 12:30 local
Place: Beaufort, NC
Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N140JM
NTSB investigation: NTSBATL06LA133
Reported as: Robsin R44
Reported engine: Lycoming IO540*
People aboard: 3
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 580 total480 in this make and model100 in the last 90 days

N140JMRegistration cancelled Apr 5, 2007 · Robinson Helicopter R44S/N 1247 · Built 2002 Airframe modelRobinson Helicopter R44 Engine modelLycoming IO-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) Pilot was conducting aerial sight seeing and photography five miles off the coast of Beaufort, NC. Pilot flew backwards alongside a boat for the purpose of aerial photography. Pilot then executed a pedal turn to transition to forward flight and experienced a low rotor RPM condition. Pilot then executed an autorotation and ditched the aircraft in the water. Post crash investigation with aid of engine and airframe manufacturers revealed no mechanical irregularities with the aircraft.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) PILOT WAS CONDUCTING AERIAL SIGHT SEEING AND PHOTOGRAPHY FIVE MILES OFF THE COAST OF BEAUFORT, NC. PILOT FLEW BACKWARDS ALONGSIDE A BOAT FOR THE PURPOSE OF AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY. PILOT THEN EXECUTED A PEDAL TURN TO TRANSITION TO FORWARD FLIGHT AND EXPERIENCED A LOW ROTOR RPM CONDITION. PILOT THEN EXECUTED AN AUTOROTATION AND DITCHED THE AIRCRAFT IN THE WATER. POST CRASH INVESTIGATION WITH AID OF ENGINE AND AIRFRAME MANUFACTURERS REVEALED NO MECHANICAL IRREGULARITIES WITH THE AIRCRAFT.

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 ATL06LA133Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBeaufort, NCThe loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.Sep 30, 2006 · Substantial damage