# Accident 20060930021769A: Robsin R44, Beaufort, NC, September 30, 2006

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 30, 2006, 12:30 local time
- Place: Beaufort, NC
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.5669° N, 76.6764° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5669&lon=-76.6764&mi=10
- Aircraft: N140JM, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N140JM-2007-04-05) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 (registry code 7640120, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540 series (registry code 41530, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBSIN R44
- Reported engine: LYC IO540*
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 580 total, 480 in this make and model, 100 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL06LA133](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL06LA133) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060930021769A

## Narrative

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

(-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.

## 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 ATL06LA133](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL06LA133), Sep 30, 2006: Robinson R44 (N140JM), Beaufort, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

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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