# Accident 20231230020052A: Robinson Helicopter R44, Daytona Beach, FL, December 30, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 30, 2023, 14:00 local time
- Place: Daytona Beach, FL
- Airport: Daytona Beach International
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Collision: Midair collision
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: NP4J
- Location: 29.1632° N, 81.0782° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.1632&lon=-81.0782&mi=10
- Aircraft: N828AK, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N828AK) (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: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 342 total, 203 in this make and model, 121 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA24LA079](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA079) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231230020052A

## Narrative

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

DECEMBER 30, 2023, 1400 LOCAL TIME; A HELICOPETER, R-44, RETURNING FROM AN AIR TOUR OPERATION, PART 91, WITH ONE PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS ON BOARD AND DURING THE APPROACH TO LANDING PHASE COLLIDED MID-AIR WITH AN UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE (UAV) DJI MAVIC 2 PRO. THE MID-AIR COLLISION OCCURED INSIDE THE CLASS "C" AIRSPACE AT DAYTONA BEACH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (DAB) SW FROM FIELD CENTER BEARING 234°AND ~1.5NM DISTANCE OR APPROXIMATELY 29.16°N/81.08°W. ALTITUDE AT TIME OF IMPACT...R-44 PILOT REPORTED 200' TO 300'; UAV PILOT REPORTED 180'. THE UAV IMPACTED THE R-44 ADVANCING ROTOR BLADE ON THE RIGHT OF THE AIRCRAFT APPROXIMATELY 2/3RD DISTANCE FROM THE ROTOR SHAFT.  THE PILOT FELT A LOW FREQUENCY VIBRATION AFTER THE IMPACT AND EXECUTED A NORMAL LANDING.  NO INJURIES TO POBS AND NO COLLATERAL DAMAGE TO THE R-44 BEYOND DAMAGE TO THE ROTOR BLADE.

THE UAV WAS DESTROYED, MOST OF THE UAV WAS RECOVERED.  THE CAMERA MOUNTED TO THE UAV WAS NOT RECOVERED.

## Other aircraft in the event

- FA3XN, Dji MAVIC 2 PRO: no report for this aircraft in the release

## 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 ERA24LA079](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA079), Dec 30, 2023: Robinson Helicopter R44 (N828AK), Daytona Beach, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The UAS operator’s failure to operate within the limitations of the COA that he was using to operate inside class C airspace, which resulted in a collision between the UAS and the helicopter.

## Other reports on N828AK (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20191113021179I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20191113021179I), Nov 13, 2019: Robinson Helicopter R44 (N828AK), Tampa, FL, Minor damage. On November 13, 2019, at approximately 1730 local time N828AK experienced an "eng fire" warning light while in flight. N828AK was conducting a sightseeing…

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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