# Accident 20120213001969A: Robinson Helicopter R44, Charleston, SC, February 13, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 13, 2012, 13:30 local time
- Place: Charleston, SC
- Airport: Charleston International.
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.8767° N, 79.9589° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8767&lon=-79.9589&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5511L, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5511L-2012-04-23) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 (registry code 7640120, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O-540-F1B5 (registry code 42353, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-540-f1b5) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O-540-F1B5
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 866 total, 223 in this make and model, 236 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA12CA179](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA179) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120213001969A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT IN COMMAND (PIC) , A CERTIFICATED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR, AND A STUDENT PILOT, WERE PERFORMING AN AUTO ROTATION TO GROUND. THE PIC STATEMENT INDICATED THAT THE HELICOPTER WAS DECENDING FAST, AND THAT HE TOOK CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER. HE DID NOT ADD POWER. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK A DIRT MOUND AND THE PIC THEN LOST CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER. THE HELICOPTER STOPPED LAYING ON ITS LEFT SIDE. THE PILOT IN COMMAND, AND THE STUDENT PILOT WERE IN CONTACT WITH THE IIC FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT.THE HELICOPTER WAS DESTROYED, THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO THE TWO SOB, AND THERE WAS NO FIRE.THE HELICOPTER WAS UNACCESSIBLE DUE TO ITS LOCATION,  ON A MARSHY AREA OF LAND NEAR THE OCEAN, WHICH WAS OWNED BY THE U.S. CORPS OF ENGINEERS. THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS WOULD NOT ALLOW ANYONE ON THE PROPERTY, AS TOLD TO THE IIC BY THE AIRCRAFT OWNER. AFTER THE INSURANCE COMPANY GOT PERMISSION THE HAVE THE AIRCRAFT MOVED, THE AIRCRAFT WENT DIRECTLY TO AIRCRAFT SALVAGE OVER THE WEEKEND BY ATLANTA SALVAGE.

## 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 ERA12CA179](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA179), Feb 13, 2012: Robinson Helicopter R44 (N5511L), N. Charleston, SC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor’s failure to apply power during a practice autorotation in order to arrest a high rate of descent, which resulted in an in-flight collision with terrain.

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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