# Accident 20121130027119A: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, Apollo Beach, FL, November 30, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 30, 2012, 15:15 local time
- Place: Apollo Beach, FL
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 27.7806° N, 82.4314° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.7806&lon=-82.4314&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2626N, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2626N-2018-01-12) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA (registry code 7640110, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O-360 series (registry code 41575, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22 BETA
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O-360 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 30,000 total, 300 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA13FA070](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13FA070) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121130027119A

## Narrative

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

ON NOVEMBER 30, 2012, ABOUT 1515 EASTERN STANDARD TIME, A ROBINSON R22 BETA II, N2626N, OPERATED BY TAMPA BAY AVIATION, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHEN IT IMPACTED THE WATER, FOLLOWING A MAIN ROTOR BLADE SEPARATION IN FLIGHT NEAR APOLLO BEACH, FLORIDA. THE PILOT IN COMMAND WAS FATALLY INJURIED.ACCORDING TO PRELIMINARY DATA, THE HELICOPTER DEPARTED ITS HOME BASE AT CLEARWATER AIRPARK (CLW), CLEARWATER, FLORIDA ABOUT 1405. IT FLEW OVER THE LOCAL AREA AND LANDED BRIEFLY AT TPF, BEFORE PERFORMING ANOTHER LOCAL FLIGHT. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE HELICOPTER WAS FLYING ALONG THE BEACH, FROM NORTH TO SOUTH, ABOUT 800 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL. THE WITNESSES HEARD A BANG, FOLLOWED BY A MAIN ROTOR BLADE SEPARATION. THE HELICOPTER THEN IMMEDIATELY ROLLED RIGHT AND DESCENDED NOSE DOWN IN TO TAMPA BAY, ABOUT 200 YARDS FROM SHORE. THE HELICOPTER WAS RECOVERED FROM TAMP BAY 2 DAYS LATER. THE ENGINE AND ROTOR MAST REMAINED ATTACHED TO THE AIRFRAME. THE ROTOR HUB REMAINED ATTACHED TO THE ROTOR MAST; HOWEVER, BOTH SPINDLE ASSEMBLIES AND THEIR RESPECTIVE MAIN ROTOR BLADES HAD SEPARATED FROM THE HUB AND WERE NOT RECOVERED. THE TAILBOOM SEPARATED ABOUT 6 FEET FROM THE TRANSMISSION AND THE TAILROTOR REMAINED WITH THE TAILBOOM. THE ROTOR HUB WAS RETAINED FOR FURTHER EXAMINATION AND A FURTHER SEARCH FOR THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES WAS PLANNED.

## 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 ERA13FA070](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13FA070), Nov 30, 2012: Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta II (N2626N), Apollo Beach, FL, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: Mast bumping for reasons that could not be determined because one main rotor blade was not recovered.

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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