# Accident 20111105024719A: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, West Palm Beach, FL, November 5, 2011

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 5, 2011, 16:22 local time
- Place: West Palm Beach, FL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: OH0S
- Location: 26.7431° N, 80.0506° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.7431&lon=-80.0506&mi=10
- Aircraft: N413RM, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N413RM-2017-10-06) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA (registry code 7640110, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22 BETA
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 67 total, 25 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA12LA063](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12LA063) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111105024719A

## Narrative

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

PILOT STATES THAT ON 11/05/2011, N413RM WAS DOING AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY NEAR THE WEST PALM BEACH SHIPYARDS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS AT APPROXIMATELY 700' AND DESENDING DOWN TO 500'+, SETTING UP FOR THE SECOND APPROACH TO THE YACHT CLUB. THE PILOT REPORTS THAT HE WAS ON THE DOWNWIND LEG WHEN HE EXPERIENCED A SLIGHT LOSS OF POWER. THE AIRSPEED BLED OFF AND WAS AT APPROXIMATELY 60KTS. HE SAYS AT THAT MOMENT HE THOUGHT OF PERFORMING AN AUTO ROTATION WITH A LOSS OF POWER. OIL PRESSURE WAS LOW BUT IN THE NORMAL RANGE. HE LOWERED THE NOSE TO GAIN SOME AIRSPEED AND TURNED THE AIRCRAFT INTO THE WIND (N.NE.) JUST THEN HE GOT AN AURAL LOW RPM WARNING HORN. HE LOOKED FOR A CLEAR AREA TO LAND. AS HE GOT CLOSER TO THE GROUND, HE NOTICED SOME POWER LINES AND NO CLEAR AREA TO LAND. HE PICKED A SPOT AND PROCEEDED TO THAT SPOT. HE SAW MORE POWER LINES COMING TOWARDS THE AIRCRAFT. HE DID A MANUVER TO RAISE THE NOSE WHEN HE STRUCK THE POWER LINE WITH THE MAIN ROTOR MAST. HE CONTINUED AND STRUCK THE TOP OF A PALM TREE AND HIT THE CORNER OF A HOUSE ROOF (2ND STORY). JUST THEN THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO ROLL BACK AND THEY FELL OFF OF THE ROOF, TAIL FIRST AND STRUCK THE 1ST FLOOR VARANDA ROOF WITH THE LH SKID. THE ROTOR BLADE STRUCK ANOTHER TREE AS THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO FALL TO THE STREET. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A CAR (PARKED IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE) WITH THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE AND FINALLY CAME TO REST RH SIDE DOWN ON THE SIDEWALK BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND THE CAR, RESTING ON THE MAIN ROTOR HEAD BOOM. THE PILOT ASKED HIS PASSENGER IF SHE WAS OK. SHE REPLIED YES. THEY RELEASED THEIR BELTS AND GOT OUT OF THE AIRCRAFT. ONCE OUT OF THE AIRCRAFT, THEY ASSESSED THEIR INJURIES AND THE DAMAGES TO THE AIRCRAFT. THEY REPORT THAT EMERGENCY RESCUE WAS THERE QUICKLY AND SPRAYED FOAM ON THE AIRCRAFT.THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE TAIL BOOM WAS INTACT WITH ONE TAIL ROTOR BLADE BENT. BOTH MAIN ROTOR BLADES WHERE TOTALLY DESTROYED. THE COCKPIT PLEXY GLASS WAS BROKEN BUT THE CABIN WAS IN TACT. NO ONE ON THE GROUND OR IN THE HOUSE WAS INJURED. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES AND WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE LOCAL HOSPITAL FOR A PRECAUTIONARY EXAMINATION. THE AIRCRAFT WAS TRANSPORTED TO NORTH COUNTY AIRPORT (F45). AIRCRAFT BELONGS TO OCEANS HELICOPTER INC. SWITCHES WERE FOUND AS FOLLOWS:GOVERNOR - OFF/UPCARB HEAT - ON/PULLEDFULL AUTO ROTATION ON COLLECTIVE - UP/POWER OFFFULL RICH MIX - INFULL RT TRIM - ON

## 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 ERA12LA063](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12LA063), Nov 5, 2011: Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta (N413RM), West Palm Beach, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed during a low-altitude turn into gusty tailwind conditions, which resulted in a loss of translational lift and settling with power. Contributing to the…

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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