# Accident 20150922016629A: Robinson Helicopter R44, Lantana, FL, September 22, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 22, 2015, 10:30 local time
- Place: Lantana, FL
- Airport: Palm Beach County Airpark
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Other, Specify
- Operating rules: Pilot school (Part 141)
- Operator: IGIS
- Location: 26.5911° N, 80.0819° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.5911&lon=-80.0819&mi=10
- Aircraft: N44XL (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-540 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,146 total, 395 in this make and model, 17 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA15CA280](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA280) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150922016629A

## Narrative

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

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.

## 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 GAA15CA280](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA280), Sep 22, 2015: Robinson Helicopter R44 (N44XL), West Palm Beach, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor's improper use of pitch control during a demonstrated 180 degree autorotation which resulted in damage to the tail boom.

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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