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20150922016629A

Accident · Substantial damage
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FAA accident report · Robinson Helicopter R44 · Lantana, FL · September 22, 2015

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

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Date
September 22, 2015 · 10:30 local
Place
Lantana, FL
Airport
Palm Beach County Airpark
Phase of flight
Other, Specify
Operating rules
Pilot school (Part 141)
Operator
IGIS
Damage
Substantial damage
Aircraft
N44XL
NTSB investigation
NTSBGAA15CA280
Reported as
Robinson Helicopter R44
Reported engine
Lycoming 0-540 series
People aboard
2
Fatal injuries
0
Other injuries
0
Pilot’s certificates
Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours
1,146 total395 in this make and model17 in the last 90 days

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.

9/22 @ 10:30 Am EDT, lake worth, FL. Robinson R44 (N44XL), a/c touched down hard which caused rotor to strike tail boom damaging a/c. 2 POB, no injuries. Substantial damage.

Additional details: during autorotation instruction, the aft skids struck the surface throwing the helicopter forward and caused the blade to strike the tail boom.

As the FAA filed it

9/22 @ 10:30 AM EDT, LAKE WORTH, FL. ROBINSON R44 (N44XL), A/C TOUCHED DOWN HARD WHICH CAUSED ROTOR TO STRIKE TAIL BOOM DAMAGING A/C. 2 POB, NO INJURIES. SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS: DURING AUTOROTATION INSTRUCTION, THE AFT SKIDS STRUCK THE SURFACE THROWING THE HELICOPTER FORWARD AND CAUSED THE BLADE TO STRIKE THE TAIL BOOM.

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 GAA15CA280Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportWest Palm Beach, FLThe flight instructor's improper use of pitch control during a demonstrated 180 degree autorotation which resulted in damage to the tail boom.Sep 22, 2015 · Substantial damage