# Accident 20080906849199A: Robins R44II, Marathon, FL, September 6, 2008

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 6, 2008, 14:15 local time
- Place: Marathon, FL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 24.9697° N, 80.9036° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=24.9697&lon=-80.9036&mi=10
- Aircraft: N144SA, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N144SA-2013-08-27) (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: ROBINS R44II
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 230 total, 200 in this make and model, 35 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC08CA305](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08CA305) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080906849199A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2008, AT ABOUT 1415 EDT, A ROBINSON R-44II, HELICOPTER, N144SA REGISTERED TO FREZO FINANCIAL, CRASHED IN ABOUT 3 FEET OF WATER IN EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK, APPROXIMATELY 17 MILES NORTH EAST OF MARATHON FLORIDA, WHILE ON A PERSONAL FLIGHT.  VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME AND A VFR FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED.  THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO THE PRIVATE PILOT OR THREE PASSENGERS ONBOARD.  THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT TAMIAMI AIRPORT AT ABOUT 1300 EDT, SEPTEMBER 6, 2008.  THE PILOT STATED HE WAS HEADING SOUTH TOWARDS MARATHON AND HE BROUGHT THE HELICOPTER ABOUT TO LOOK AT SOME SHARKS.  THE TAIL ROTOR BEGAN TO SPIN IN THE DIRECTION OF THE ROTOR.  HE COULD NOT STOP THE SPIN AND ELECTED TO SET THE AIRCRAFT DOWN, HE POPPED THE EMERGENCY FLOATS AND AS HE SETTLED IN, THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED TO THE LEFT AND CAME TO REST ON IT'S SIDE PARTIALLY SUBMERGED IN THE WATER.  EXAMINATION OF THE HELICOPTER REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF ANY PREIMPACT FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE AIRCRAFT OR THE TAIL ROTOR SYSTEM.

## 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 NYC08CA305](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08CA305), Sep 6, 2008: Robinson R44 II (N144SA), Marathon, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to control the helicopter while maneuvering, resulting in loss of tail rotor effectiveness.

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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