# Accident 20101208053889A: Robinson He R44 II, Pahokee, FL, December 8, 2010

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 8, 2010, 02:10 local time
- Place: Pahokee, FL
- Airport: Palm Beach County Glades
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Ground/Ramp/Ma
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 26.7844° N, 80.6894° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.7844&lon=-80.6894&mi=10
- Aircraft: N666SL (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HE R44 II
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-540-AE1A5
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 3,232 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA11CA081](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA081) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101208053889A

## Narrative

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

PILOT HAD REFUELED AT NIGHT DURING A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT.  HIS STUDENT DID NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE MOVING THE AIRCRAFT FROM THE AREA. THERE WERE OTHER HELICOPTERS IN THE AREA PARTICIPATING IN FROST CONTROL.  UPON LIFT OFF THE PILOT FAILED TO CONTROL THE AIRCRAFT.  THE AIRCRAFT MADE APPROXIMATELY 3 ROTATIONS BEFORE HITTING A POLE THAT HELD A FIRE EXTINGUSHIER.  THE CONTACT WITH THE TAIL ROTOR CAUSED THE TAIL BOOM TO SEPERATE FROM THE AIRCRAFT.  AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST WITHOUT TIPPING OVER.

## 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 ERA11CA081](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA081), Dec 8, 2010: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (N666SL), Pahokee, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter during takeoff.

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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