# Accident 20180607007239A: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Gulf Shores, AL, June 7, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 7, 2018, 13:40 local time
- Place: Gulf Shores, AL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 30.2222° N, 88.0181° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2222&lon=-88.0181&mi=10
- Aircraft: N755KT, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N755KT-2021-07-31) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (registry code 7640122, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5 (registry code 41899, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-ae1a5) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-540-AE1A5
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 811 total, 747 in this make and model, 193 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA18LA161](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18LA161) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180607007239A

## Narrative

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

PILOT REPORTED WHILE TRAVELING AT CRUISE ALTITUDE OF 400' ALONG THE COASTLINE THE ENGINE SHUDDERED BRIEFLY AND QUIT. AN AUTOROTATION TO THE WATER WAS INITIATED DUE TO A CROWDED BEACH FRONT. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN APPROXIMATELY FOUR FEET OF WATER. THE AFT TAILBOOM AT THE TAILROTOR GEARBOX BROKE OFF THE AIRCRAFT WHEN THE TAILROTOR BLADES HIT THE WATER. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST UPRIGHT IN THE SURF.

## 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 ERA18LA161](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18LA161), Jun 7, 2018: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (N755KT), Fort Morgan, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident engine examinations did not reveal any evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that…

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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