# Accident 20140210005499A: Robinson Helicopter R44, Orlando, FL, February 10, 2014

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 10, 2014, 09:30 local time
- Place: Orlando, FL
- Airport: Premium Heliport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Ground/Ramp/Ma
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: F11J
- Location: 28.3798° N, 81.4792° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.3798&lon=-81.4792&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7040U, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7040U-2016-02-17) (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: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 1,560 total, 850 in this make and model, 120 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA14CA143](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14CA143) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140210005499A

## Narrative

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

ON FEBRUARY 10, 2014 ABOUT 0930 LOCAL TIME, PILOT OF A ROBINSON 44 HELICOPTER, N7040U, STARTED THE AIRCRAFT WITH THE TAIL ROTOR COVER STILL ATTACHED, SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGING THE HELICOPTER.

THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM A PRIVATE HELIPAD IN ORLANDO WITH THE PURPOSE TO CONDUCT SEIGHTSEING UNDER AN AIR TOUR OPERATION.

THE PILOT PREFLIGHTED THE HELICOPTER AND REMOVED CUSTOM MADE COVERS FROM THE AIRCRAFT AS PASSENGERS WERE WAITING AT A NEARBY LOCATION.

THE PILOT WAS INSTRUCTED BY THE OPERATOR TO START THE HELICOPTER WITHOUT PASSENGERS AT FIRST AND THE PASSENGERS WERE SUPPOSED TO BE BOARDED LATER.

ONCE THE PILOT ENGAGED THE CLUTCH, HE NOTICED UNUSUAL NOISE AND SHAKING FROM THE REAR, THEREFORE HE SHUT DOWN THE HELICOPTER.

THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DUE TO FAILURE OF REMOVING THE TAIL ROTOR COVER BEFORE FLIGHT DURING THE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION.

## 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 ERA14CA143](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14CA143), Feb 10, 2014: Robinson Helicopter R44 (N7040U), Orlando, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection in which he failed to remove the tail rotor covers, which resulted in the failure of the tail rotor drive shaft during engine start.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.