20101208054589A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Robinson He R44 · Pahokee, FL · December 8, 2010

Date: December 8, 2010 · 05:42 local
Place: Pahokee, FL
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N451DB
NTSB investigation: NTSBERA11CA080
Reported as: Robinson He R44
Reported engine: Lycoming 0-540 series
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 1
Pilot’s certificates: Airline transport, commercial pilot, flight instructor
Pilot’s flight hours: 15,000 total400 in this make and model8 in the last 90 days

N451DBRegistration cancelled Feb 10, 2011 · Robinson Helicopter R44S/N 1395 · Built 2004 Airframe modelRobinson Helicopter R44 Engine modelLycoming 0-540 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

FAA arrived at the accident scene at 1005 hrs. Palm beach sheriff was on scene with the area secured. PIC was no longer at accident site but spoke to deputy before he left and stated he had fallen asleep at the controls. Inspection of the crash site revealed the aircraft came in under power at a right nose down attitude. The right skid had initial impact into the ground causing the aircraft to flip forward and rest on its side causing substantial damage to the aircraft. Phone interview conducted with PIC on 12/09/2010. At that time PIC stated he fell asleep at the controls and woke up after the crash.

As the FAA filed it

FAA ARRIVED AT THE ACCIDENT SCENE AT 1005 HRS. PALM BEACH SHERIFF WAS ON SCENE WITH THE AREA SECURED. PIC WAS NO LONGER AT ACCIDENT SITE BUT SPOKE TO DEPUTY BEFORE HE LEFT AND STATED HE HAD FALLEN ASLEEP AT THE CONTROLS. INSPECTION OF THE CRASH SITE REVEALED THE AIRCRAFT CAME IN UNDER POWER AT A RIGHT NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. THE RIGHT SKID HAD INITIAL IMPACT INTO THE GROUND CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO FLIP FORWARD AND REST ON ITS SIDE CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT. PHONE INTERVIEW CONDUCTED WITH PIC ON 12/09/2010. AT THAT TIME PIC STATED HE FELL ASLEEP AT THE CONTROLS AND WOKE UP AFTER THE CRASH.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ERA11CA080Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCanal Point, FLPilot fatigue due to lack of sleep resulting in incapacitation (falling asleep) and ground contact while maneuvering at a low altitude.Dec 8, 2010 · Substantial damage