# Accident 20070327004599A: Robsin R44RAVENII, Pontevedrabeach, FL, March 27, 2007

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 27, 2007, 09:45 local time
- Place: Pontevedrabeach, FL
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 30.2317° N, 81.3756° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2317&lon=-81.3756&mi=10
- Aircraft: N744SH, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N744SH-2018-01-26) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (registry code 7640122, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540 series (registry code 41530, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBSIN R44RAVENII
- Reported engine: LYC IO540*
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Pilot flight hours: 440 total, 276 in this make and model, 128 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DEN07FA079](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN07FA079) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070327004599A

## Narrative

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

(-23) FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT PILOT PREPARED FOR A FLIGHT FROM CRAIG MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, FLORIDA, ON AN ORIENTATION FLIGHT FOR THE STUDENT, BOUND FOR ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA THEN RETURNING TO CRAIG MUNICIPAL. AIRCRAFT DEPARTED AIRPORT WESTBOUND AND TURNED SOUTHEAST TOWARDS PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA. AIRCRAFT WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT OVER HOMES IN PONTE VEDRA BEACH WHEN WITNESSES REPORTED HEARING A LOUD "SNAP" THEN LOSING CONTROL BEFORE CRASHING INTO THE BEACH. AIRCRAFT INITIALLY IMPACTED BEACH, BECOMING AIRBORNE AGAIN BEFORE COMING TO REST 100 FEET SOUTHEAST OF THE INITIAL IMPACT POINT. AIRCRAFT BURST INTO FLAMES WHEN IMPACTING THE GROUND THE SECOND TIME. AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED. BOTH OCCUPANTS RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE RIGHT FORWARD PUSH-PULL TUBE, CONNECTING THE SWASHPLATE TO THE RIGHT FORWARD HYDRAULIC SERVO, WAS NOT CONNECTED AT THE SERVO. THE LEFT FORWARD PUSH-PULL TUBE, CONNECTING THE SWASHPLATE TO THE LEFT FORWARD HYDRAULIC SERVO, WAS CONNECTED AT THE SERVO; HOWEVER, THE NUT SECURING THE BOLT WAS NOT TIGHT NOR WAS THE PALNUT INSTALLED.

## 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 DEN07FA079](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN07FA079), Mar 27, 2007: Robinson R44 II (N744SH), Ponte Vedra Bch, FL, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: the mechanic's improper installation of the attachment hardware for the servo to swashplate push-pull tube joint which resulted in a disconnection, subsequent loss of control, and impact with…

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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