20221122020469A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Robinson Helicopter R44 · Charlotte, NC · November 22, 2022

Date: November 22, 2022 · 11:57 local
Place: Charlotte, NC
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N7094J
NTSB investigation: NTSBERA23FA070
Reported as: Robinson Helicopter R44
Reported engine: Lycoming 0-540 series
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 2
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
Pilot’s flight hours: 3,744 total3,722 in this make and model36 in the last 90 days

N7094JRegistered now · Robinson Helicopter R44S/N 0600 · Built 1999 Airframe modelRobinson Helicopter R44 Engine modelLycoming 0-540 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

privacy data omitted, A local Charlotte, NC tv station news gathering helicopter, departed NC90 conducting a part 91 flight with the pilot and a tv station metorologist on board. Approx. 6 minutes in to the flight, the aircraft crashed facing north on the outer edge of the I-77 south bound hwy between exits 3 & 4. Both occupants suffered fatal injuries.

As the FAA filed it

^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, A LOCAL CHARLOTTE, NC TV STATION NEWS GATHERING HELICOPTER, DEPARTED NC90 CONDUCTING A PART 91 FLIGHT WITH THE PILOT AND A TV STATION METOROLOGIST ON BOARD. APPROX. 6 MINUTES IN TO THE FLIGHT, THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED FACING NORTH ON THE OUTER EDGE OF THE I-77 SOUTH BOUND HWY BETWEEN EXITS 3 & 4. BOTH OCCUPANTS SUFFERED FATAL INJURIES.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ERA23FA070Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportCharlotte, NCThe inadequate inspections of the forward left control rod end attachment hardware to the stationary swashplate by the pilot and by maintenance personnel, resulting in an eventual loosening and backing out of the hardware and subsequent loss of helicopter…Nov 22, 2022 · Substantial damage