20240406004099A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Robinson Helicopter R44 · Key Biscayne, FL · April 6, 2024

Date: April 6, 2024 · 14:00 local
Place: Key Biscayne, FL
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N234ZT
NTSB investigation: NTSBERA24LA166
Reported as: Robinson Helicopter R44
Reported engine: Lycoming O-540-F1B5
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 1
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 793 total725 in this make and model8 in the last 90 days

N234ZTRegistered now · Robinson Helicopter R44S/N 30027 · Built 2017 Airframe modelRobinson Helicopter R44 Engine modelLycoming O-540-F1B5Reciprocating

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.

Part 91 operation Robinson R44, registration privacy data omitted serial number 30027 departing miami executive airport (ktmb) to eleuthera Bahamas, with one pilot on board, 20 minutes into flight helicopter loss engine power, with pilot attempting to return to miami executive airport (ktmb) but crashing into ocean half a mile of light house of village of Key Biscayne. Helicopter sustain major damage submerged in saltwater pilot with minor injuries. Aircraft registered under privacy data omitted

As the FAA filed it

PART 91 OPERATION ROBINSON R44, REGISTRATION ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ SERIAL NUMBER 30027 DEPARTING MIAMI EXECUTIVE AIRPORT (KTMB) TO ELEUTHERA BAHAMAS, WITH ONE PILOT ON BOARD, 20 MINUTES INTO FLIGHT HELICOPTER LOSS ENGINE POWER, WITH PILOT ATTEMPTING TO RETURN TO MIAMI EXECUTIVE AIRPORT (KTMB) BUT CRASHING INTO OCEAN HALF A MILE OF LIGHT HOUSE OF VILLAGE OF KEY BISCAYNE. HELICOPTER SUSTAIN MAJOR DAMAGE SUBMERGED IN SALTWATER PILOT WITH MINOR INJURIES. AIRCRAFT REGISTERED UNDER ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^

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 ERA24LA166Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportKey Biscayne, FLA loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined.Apr 6, 2024 · Substantial damage