# Accident 20101208054589A: Robinson He R44, Pahokee, FL, December 8, 2010

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 8, 2010, 05:42 local time
- Place: Pahokee, FL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 26.7167° N, 80.5833° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.7167&lon=-80.5833&mi=10
- Aircraft: N451DB, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N451DB-2011-02-10) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 (registry code 7640120, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540 series (registry code 41532, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HE R44
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-540 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 15,000 total, 400 in this make and model, 8 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA11CA080](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA080) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101208054589A

## Narrative

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

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.

## 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 ERA11CA080](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA080), Dec 8, 2010: Robinson Helicopter R44 (N451DB), Canal Point, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: Pilot fatigue due to lack of sleep resulting in incapacitation (falling asleep) and ground contact while maneuvering at a low altitude.

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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