# Incident 20151209020469I: Robinson Helicopter R44, West Palm Beach, FL, December 9, 2015

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 9, 2015, 08:40 local time
- Place: West Palm Beach, FL
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 26.8458° N, 80.2225° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.8458&lon=-80.2225&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4427H, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4427H) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 (registry code 7640120, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540F1 SERIE (registry code 41531, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540f1-serie) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-540F1 SERIE
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 80 total, 26 in this make and model, 26 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA16CA075](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA075) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20151209020469I

## Narrative

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

THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON A NORMAL APPROACH TO THE HOVER AND AS HE TRANSITIONED INTO THE HOVER THE MACHINE YAWED TO THE RIGHT AND THE STUDENT LOST CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER. RIGHT YAW IS USUALLY CAUSED BY A DRIVE TRAIN (TAIL ROTOR) FAILURE , LATE APPLICATION OF LEFT PEDAL TO COUNTERACT THE YAW DUE TO POWER APPLICATION OR AN AERODYNAMIC EFFECT CAUSED BY A LEFT CROSSWIND ELEMENT REFERRED TO AS LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR EFFECTIVENESS (LTE)

THE DRIVE TRAIN WAS IMMEDIATELY INSPECTED AND SHOWED FULL CONTINUITY AND THE WINDS ON THE DAY WERE OUT OF THE LEFT SIDE BUT QUITE LIGHT. IT IS POSSIBLE HE WAS LATE WITH LEFT PEDAL APPLICATION , A RIGHT YAW DEVELOPED AND LTE RESULTED FROM ALLOWING A RAPID RIGHT YAW TO DEVELOP UN CHECKED.

THE STUDENT IMMEDIATELY LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE LEVER RESULTING IN THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTING ON THE TAXI WAY ON THE LEFT FORWARD SKID  SUPPORT FAIRING WITH RAPID RIGHT ROTATION.

THE AIRCRAFT THEN ROCKED BACKWARDS ON ITS LANDING GEAR AND THE REAL TAIL ROTOR GUARD (STINGER) IMPACTED THE TAXI WAY EXHIBITING SOME IMPACT DEFORMATION TO THE SIDE.

INITIAL DAMAGE ASSESSMENT

THE LANDING GEAR DID NOT YIELD AS DESIGNED AND DEFORM TO ABSORB IMPACT ENERGY AS THE IMPACT POINT APPEARED TO BE EXACTLY ON THE FRONT LEFT LANDING GEAR SUPPORT.

THE CABIN AREA BY THE LANDING GEAR FRONT CROSS MEMBER SHOWS DEFORMATION AND SHEET METAL DAMAGE , THE REAR DOOR FRAME IS DISTORTED (BUT THE DOOR WILL CLOSE) , THE TAIL BOOM IS SHOWING A CREASE ON THE LEFT SIDE ON ONE SECTION AND SOME OF THE REAR AIRFRAME SHEET METAL IS SHOWING A WAVY DEFORMATION.

THE VERTICAL STABILIZER SHOWS SOME RIPPLING DAMAGE FOLLOWING THE STINGER GROUND CONTACT BUT THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF THE TAIL ROTOR BLADES STRIKING THE GROUND.

THERE WAS NO MAIN ROTOR BLADE OR TAIL ROTOR BLADE STRIKE , THE REAR FRAMES APPEAR TO BE UN DAMAGED AND THE DRIVE TRAIN IS CONTINUOUS INDICATING NO SUDDEN STOPPAGE.

## 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 GAA16CA075](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA075), Dec 9, 2015: Robinson Helicopter R44 (N4427H), West Palm Beach, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing, which resulted in a horizontal rotation of the helicopter, and abnormal runway contact.

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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