# Accident 20091128051679A: Robinson He R22, Indian Key, FL, November 28, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 28, 2009, 14:30 local time
- Place: Indian Key, FL
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Ground/Ramp/Ma
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 24.8736° N, 80.6728° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=24.8736&lon=-80.6728&mi=10
- Aircraft: N324GS, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N324GS-2009-12-31) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R22 (registry code 7640102, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O-360 series (registry code 41575, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HE R22
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O-360 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 23,000 total, 350 in this make and model, 9 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA10CA083](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA083) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20091128051679A

## Narrative

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

PILOT TOOK OFF FROM BACKYARD OF HIS HOUSE AT MILE MARKER 88 IN ISLAMORADA, FL AND FLEW AT 500' ALONG THE OCEAN SHORELINE TO APPROXIMATELY MILE MARKER 75 WHEN HE NOTICED THE CLUTCH LIGHT SEEMED TO BE BLINKING A LITTLE MORE THAN NORMAL. HE TURNED AROUND AND STARTED BACK WHEN NOTICING NO ONE WAS ON INDIAN KEY. PILOT LANDED TO CHECK THE DRIVE BELTS. PILOT SET THE RPM AT 70% AND TIGHTENED THE FRICTION ON THE CYCLIC AND BUT FAILED TO SET ON THE LOCK ON THE COLLECTIVE. PILOT LEFT THE AIRCRAFT RUNNING AND EXITED THE AIRCRAFT TO OPEN THE COWLINGS AND CHECK THE BELTS. THIS TOOK 2 MINUTES ACCORDING TO PILOTS STATEMENT. AS THE PILOT WAS WALKING BACK TO THE COCKPIT, THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO LIFT OFF ON ITS OWN. PILOT QUICKLY TRIED TO REACH IN AND LOWER THE COLLECTIVE BUT WAS TOO LATE AND UP IT WENT WITH THE PILOT HANGING ON THE OUTSIDE. ABOUT 10 FEET OFF THE GROUND THE PILOT LETS GO AND FELL TO THE GROUND BREAKING HIS LEFT ARM AND THE HELICOPTER WENT UP ANOTHER 200 FEET HIGH AND 600 YARDS AWAY BEFORE CRASHING INTO THE ATLANTIC OCEAN IN FIVE FEET OF 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 ERA10CA083](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA083), Nov 28, 2009: Robinson Helicopter R22 (N324GS), Indian Key, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to secure the collective control prior to departing the helicopter, which resulted in an unmanned departure and subsequent crash of the helicopter.

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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