# Accident 20120519009399A: Robinson Helicopter R44, Destin, FL, May 19, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 19, 2012, 15:44 local time
- Place: Destin, FL
- Airport: Destin-Fort Walton Beach
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 30.3999° N, 86.4908° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.3999&lon=-86.4908&mi=10
- Aircraft: N444WT (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44
- Reported engine: LYCOMING NC-0-540
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 433 total, 143 in this make and model, 22 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA12LA346](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12LA346) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120519009399A

## Narrative

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

HELICOPTER EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE TACHOMETER SYSTEM FAILURE (OVER-SPEED INDICATION) DURING TAKEOFF AT 200 FEET AGL ON A 140 DEGREE HEADING.  PILOT ELECTED TO RETURN TO AIRPORT AND COMMENCED A RIGHT TURN PLACING THE HELICOPTER TAIL INTO THE RELATIVE WIND (APPROXIMATELY 10 KNOTS FROM THE EAST) WITH TWO PASSENGERS ONBOARD.  IMMEDIATELY THE ROTOR LOW RPM WARNING SOUNDED/ILLUMINATED. PILOT LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE AND APPLIED POWER AND CONTINUED TOWARDS THE AIRPORT.  WITHIN SECONDS THE ROTOR WARNING SOUNDED/ILLUMINATED A SECOND TIME AND PILOT LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE AND ELECTED TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON THE SAND. HELICOPTER IMPACTED THE GROUND(SAND) ROCKING FORWARD THEN AFT CAUSING THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES TO CONTACT AND SEPARATE THE TAIL BOOM AND TAIL ROTOR FROM THE HELICOPTER.  THE HELICOPTER REMAINED IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION WITH NO INJURIES TO PILOT OR PASSENGERS.

## 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 ERA12LA346](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12LA346), May 19, 2012: Robinson Helicopter R44 (N444WT), Destin, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The partial loss of engine power due to a stuck (open) exhaust valve in the No. 5 cylinder. Contributing to the accident was the operator’s failure to follow the engine manufacturer’s directives…

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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