# Accident 20080515834829A: Robsin R44, Lake Wales, FL, May 15, 2008

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 15, 2008, 16:50 local time
- Place: Lake Wales, FL
- Airport: Lake Wales Municipal
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Pwr Off Vert Land/Autorotate
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: P0KM
- Location: 27.8997° N, 81.4553° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.8997&lon=-81.4553&mi=10
- Aircraft: N911GJ, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N911GJ-2010-04-02) (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 R44
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 8,000 total, 500 in this make and model, 60 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC08TA183](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08TA183) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080515834829A

## Narrative

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

(-23) DURING A RECURRENT TRAINING FLIGHT IN THE POLK CO. SHERIFF'S R-44, INSTRUCTOR ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS DEMONSTRATING A ZERO AIRSPEED AUTOROTATION TO STUDENT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.  AT THE END OF THE AUTOROTATION, THE PILOT OF THE AIRCRAFT FAILED TO MAINTAIN CONTROL AND LANDED HARD.  THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED AND TIPPED TO THE LEFT CAUSING THE MAIN AND TAIL ROTOR SYSTEMS TO CONTACT THE GROUND RESULTING IN DESTRUCTION OF THE AIRCRAFT.  THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST ON ITS LEFT SIDE WITH THE CREW SUFFERING MINOR INJURIES.  INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT CONFIRMED FLIGHT CONTROL AND ENGINE CONTROL CONTINUITY.  VISUAL INSPECTION OF FUEL SAMPLES FROM THE TANK AND GASCOLATOR WERE CLEAR OF DEBRIS AND WATER.

## 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 NYC08TA183](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08TA183), May 15, 2008: Robinson R44 II (N911GJ), Lake Wales, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper recovery from a practice autorotation.

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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