# Accident 20230531010789A: Robinson Helicopter R44, Waterford, MI, May 31, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 31, 2023, 12:00 local time
- Place: Waterford, MI
- Airport: Oakland County International
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.6656° N, 83.4205° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6656&lon=-83.4205&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7102Z, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7102Z) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 (registry code 7640120, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O-540-F1B5 (registry code 42353, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-540-f1b5) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O-540-F1B5
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 9,165 total, 6,623 in this make and model, 63 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN23LA219](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA219) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230531010789A

## Narrative

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

PILOT WAS INSTRUCTING HOVER TECHNIQUES AND RETOOK FLIGHT CONTROLS AND FAILED TO NOTICE A REARWARD MOMENT IMPARTED BY THE STUDENT.  THE HELICOPTER TAIL HIT THE GROUND HARD ENOUGH TO CAUSE SEPARATION OF THE TAIL ROTOR ASSEMBLY FROM THE BOOM.  AS THE HELICOPTER STARTED A RIGHT HAND SPIN THE PILOT DUMPED THE COLLECTIVE TO PUT THE HELICOPTER ON THE GROUND.  AFTER SHUTTING DOWN BOTH EXITED WITHOUT INJURY.

## 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 CEN23LA219](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA219), May 31, 2023: Robinson Helicopter R44 (N7102Z), Pontiac, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight crew’s inadequate compensation for gusting wind, and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action, which resulted in impact with the ground.

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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