# Accident 20171205022769A: Robinson Helicopter R44, Fort Pierce, FL, December 5, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 5, 2017, 13:08 local time
- Place: Fort Pierce, FL
- Airport: Fort Pierce
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Taxi
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 27.4922° N, 80.3681° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.4922&lon=-80.3681&mi=10
- Aircraft: N99RW, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N99RW-2018-04-23) (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: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 3,000 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA18CA072](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA072) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20171205022769A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT OF N99RW JUST RETURNED FROM A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT FROM BOCA RATON BACK TO THE FORT PIERCE AIRPORT.  AFTER LANDING THE PILOT PROCEEDED TO TAXI TO THE RAMP AND LAND.  WHILE HOVERING OVER THE LANDING SPOT THE PILOT STATED HE LOST CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER AND ENDED UP IN A HIGH NOSE UP ATTITUDE CAUSING THE TAIL BOOM TO STRIKE THE GROUND.  AFTER THE STRIKE OCCURRED THE AIRCRAFT WAS LEFT UNCONTROLLABLE AND ROLLED ON IT'S RIGHT SIDE CAUSING THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES TO STRIKE THE PAVEMENT.  THE AIRCRAFT ROTOR SYSTEM BROKE INTO PIECES AND CAUSED SUDDEN STOPPAGE.  THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO FINAL REST ON THE LANDING PAD.

## 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 GAA18CA072](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA072), Dec 5, 2017: Robinson Helicopter R44 (N99RW), Fort Pierce, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a tail strike and hard landing.

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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