# Accident 20221027020599A: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Sarasota, FL, October 27, 2022

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 27, 2022, 16:05 local time
- Place: Sarasota, FL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 27.1978° N, 82.2451° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.1978&lon=-82.2451&mi=10
- Aircraft: N442H (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-540-AE1A5
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA23LA044](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA044) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221027020599A

## Narrative

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

IN ROUTE FROM WINTER HAVEN AIRPORT (GIF) N442H WAS FLYING BACK TO BUCHAN AIRPORT X36 WHEN OVER MYAKKA RIVER STATE PARK THE PILOT STARTED TO EXPERIENCE A VIBRATION DO TO A POSIBLE BIRD STRIKE TO THE AIRCRAFT SO THE PILOT CHANGED POWER SETTING AND THIS DID NOT ELIMINATE THE VIBRATION. THE PILOT PREFORMED AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A MARSHY AREA AT MYAKKA RIVER STATE PARK. AFTER LANDING THE MAIN ROTOR STRUCK THE TAIL SECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT AND SEPARATED IT FROM THE AIRCRAFT FRAME.

## 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 ERA23LA044](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA044), Oct 27, 2022: Robinson R44 (N442H), Sarasota, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: An in-flight collision with a bird, which resulted in damage to a tail rotor blade, a subsequent vibration, and the pilot’s decision to conduct a precautionary landing to unsuitable terrain.

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.