20130403004189A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Robinson Helicopter R44 · Kendall, FL · April 3, 2013

Date: April 3, 2013 · 15:00 local
Place: Kendall, FL
Airport: Kendall-Tamiami Executive
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N3101H
NTSB investigation: NTSBERA13FA186
Reported as: Robinson Helicopter R44
Reported engine: Lycoming O-540-F1B5
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 2
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Commercial pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 6,840 total

N3101HRegistration cancelled Jan 3, 2018 · Robinson Helicopter R44S/N 1610 · Built 2006 Airframe modelRobinson Helicopter R44 Engine modelLycoming O-540-F1B5Reciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Rotor blades were replaced and both airmen were tracking the rotor blades. On second flight, and approximately 2 miles east of tmb airport, an in flight break up occurred resulting in 2 fatalities. A main rotor pitch change link was found approximately 100 feet to the right and 50 feet behind the aircraft wreckage.

As the FAA filed it

ROTOR BLADES WERE REPLACED AND BOTH AIRMEN WERE TRACKING THE ROTOR BLADES. ON SECOND FLIGHT, AND APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES EAST OF TMB AIRPORT, AN IN FLIGHT BREAK UP OCCURRED RESULTING IN 2 FATALITIES. A MAIN ROTOR PITCH CHANGE LINK WAS FOUND APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET TO THE RIGHT AND 50 FEET BEHIND THE AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ERA13FA186Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportMiami, FLThe mechanic's failure to properly secure the pitch link hardware of one main rotor blade to the rotating swash plate, which resulted in the pitch link separating in flight and the pilot's subsequent loss of control. Contributing to the accident was the…Apr 3, 2013 · Destroyed