# Accident 20230704006689A: Robinson Helicopter R44, Myrtle Beach, SC, July 4, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 4, 2023, 19:38 local time
- Place: Myrtle Beach, SC
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.6797° N, 78.9283° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6797&lon=-78.9283&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7507X, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7507X) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 (registry code 7640120, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540 series (registry code 41532, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-540 SERIES
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 3
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 335 total, 281 in this make and model, 169 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA23LA287](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA287) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230704006689A

## Narrative

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

PILOT ON A 91.147 AIR TOUR OPERATION TOOK TOOF OFF FROM HELIPAD WITH PASSENGERS ON BOARD. AFTER HOVER AND GOING INTO A FORWARD MOTION, PILOT NOTICE HIS DOOR POPPED OPEN. PILOT TOOK HAND OFF OF COLLECTIVE CONTROL AND ATTEMPTED TO SHUT DOOR. HELICOPTER WAS ONLY A FEW FEET OFF THE GROUND AT THAT POINT AND IN FORWARD MOTION. PILOT LOST CONTROL AND ROTOR IMPACTED GROUND, ROLLING ONTO SIDE. PILOT AND BOTH 2 PASSENGERS WERE ABLE TO EXIT THE HELICOPTER UNDER THEIR OWN POWER. THEY WERE ALL TRANSPORTED TO HOSPITAL FOR MINOR INJURIES. MOSTLY CUTS AND ABRASIONS, NO BROKEN BONES.

## 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 ERA23LA287](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA287), Jul 4, 2023: Robinson Helicopter R44 (N7507X), Myrtle Beach, SC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the helicopter during a hover taxi, which resulted in a rollover.

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.