# Accident 20230826013719A: Robinson Helicopter R44, Immokalee, FL, August 26, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 26, 2023, 12:30 local time
- Place: Immokalee, FL
- Airport: Immokalee Regional Airport
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 26.4291° N, 81.4048° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.4291&lon=-81.4048&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4147Q, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4147Q-2026-02-14) (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: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 3,383 total, 3,100 in this make and model, 27 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA23LA350](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA350) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230826013719A

## Narrative

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

PART 61 OPERATION, 2008 ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44 SERIAL NUMBER 1844, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, REGISTERED TO ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^A DEMONSTRATION FLIGHT R44 HELICOPTER ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WITH CFI, STUDENT AND A PASSENGER WERE OPERATING ON RUNWAY 36, HOVERING ESTIMATED 10 FEET, LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND ADVANCING HELICOPTER BLADE IMPACTING GROUND FLIPPING OVER ON ITS RIGHT SIDE. CFI SUSTAIN MINOR INJURIES POSSIBLE BROKEN HAND, STUDENT NO INJURIES AND PASSENGER WITH BROKEN LEG AND ARM. CFI AND PASSENGER TRANSPORTED TO HOSPITAL. HELICOPTER R44 DESTROYED WITH SIGNIFICATE DAMAGE TO CORE STRUCTURE.

## 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 ERA23LA350](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA350), Aug 26, 2023: Robinson Helicopter R44 (N4147Q), Immokalee, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor’s inadequate supervision of the student pilot during hover flight, which resulted in main rotor blade contact with the ground after the student pilot applied a sudden control…

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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