# Accident 20190404002509A: Robinson Helicopter R44 II, Tampa, FL, April 4, 2019 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: April 4, 2019, 14:15 local time - Place: Tampa, FL - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 27.9433° N, 82.4019° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9433&lon=-82.4019&mi=10 - Aircraft: N4046J, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4046J-2022-03-12) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (registry code 7640123, 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 R44 II - Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-540-AE1A5 - People aboard: 2 - Fatal injuries: 1 - Other injuries: 0 - Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor - Pilot flight hours: 658 total, 296 in this make and model, 129 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA19FA142](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19FA142) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190404002509A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. AT APPROXIMATELY 1401 LOCAL TIME, THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED GERACI PRIVATE AIRPARK IN LUTZ, FL. ENROUTE TO SARASOTA AIRPORT (SRQ) AT APPROXIMATELY 1415, DURING CRUISE FLIGHT, 100KTS, 700-800 FT AGL, 22 INCHES MP, THE AIRCRAFT LOST POWER. THE PILOT INITIATED AUTOROTATION, SOUTHBOUND OVER SOUTH 50TH STREET, TAMPA FL. THE SKIDS TOUCHED DOWN IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF THE SOUTH BOUND SIDE OF SOUTH 50TH STREET. THE RIGHT SKID APPEARS TO HAVE COLLAPSED DURING LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT SKID APPROXIMATELY 154 FEET, COMING TO A STOP IN THE FAR RIGHT LANE IN FRONT OF BOND AUTO SALES, 539 SOUTH 50TH STREET. THE ROTOR BLADES, STILL SPINNING, MADE CONTACT WITH A TELEPHONE POLE IN FRONT OF THE LOCATION WHERE IT CAME TO A STOP. SECTIONS OF THE ROTORBLADES BROKE OFF AS UPON IMPACT WITH THE TELEPHONE POLE. A PIECE OF ROTOR BLADE TRAVELED IN THE AIR, APPROXIMATELY 256 FEET, CROSSED PALM RIVER ROAD, AND WENT THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD OF A MOTOR VEHICLE THAT WAS IN THE FAR RIGHT LANE OF THE NORTH BOUND SIDE OF SOUTH 50TH STREET AT THE SOUTH ENTRANCE OF SEVEN ELEVEN CONVENIENT STORE, 702 SOUTH 50TH STREET. A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT OF THE VEHICLE WAS KILLED AT THE SCENE. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER WENT TO THE HOSPITAL TO BE CHECKED AND REPORTED NO INJURIES. ## 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 ERA19FA142](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19FA142), Apr 4, 2019: Robinson R44 II (N4046J), Tampa, FL, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: Contamination of and an inadequate bond between the two layers of fabric comprising the helicopter engine's air induction inlet duct, which resulted a partial collapse of the duct, obstruction of the… ## Other reports on N4046J (1) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Incident 20190331002279I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190331002279I), Mar 31, 2019: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (N4046J), Lutz, FL, No damage. The pilot departed (kapf) enroute to (kcty), while in cruise flight, 1000 feet AGL, 110 KTS, after approximately one hour ten minutes, the pilot experienced a… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.