# Incident 20241012015539I: Robinson Helicopter R44, Merritt Island, FL, October 12, 2024

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 12, 2024, 14:05 local time
- Place: Merritt Island, FL
- Airport: Merritt Island
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 28.3416° N, 80.6855° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at MERRITT ISLAND (COI), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.3416&lon=-80.6855&mi=10
- Aircraft: N144VG, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N144VG) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R44 (registry code 7640120, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540F1 SERIE (registry code 41531, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540f1-serie) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-540F1 SERIE
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241012015539I

## Narrative

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

PILOT PROVIDED A PRE-SALE FLIGHT DEMONSTRATION OF THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT TO A POTENTIAL BUYER ON 10/12/2024.

THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO HOVER-TAXI THE AIRCRAFT TO A RAMP ON A FLATBED TRUCK. WHILE IN A HOVER TO POSITION THE AIRCRAFT, THE ROTOR BLADES STRUCK AN ADJACENT BUILDING ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. THE ROTORS CONTACTED THE WOOD FASCIA AND CONCRETE BUILDING, RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE ROTOR BLADES. THE HELICOPTER IMMEDIATELY YAWED 90 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT. THE PILOT THEN LANDED THE HELICOPTER WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.  THE DAMAGED AIRCRAFT WAS THEN LOADED ONTO THE FLATBED TRUCK AND TRANSPORTED OFF AIRFIELD TO A STORAGE FACILITY.

UPON NOTIOFICATION FROM THE FAA ROC, THE FAA IIC ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT AIRPORT MANAGER WITHOUT SUCCESS. THE FAA IIC WAS INFORMED THE BREVARD COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE HANGAR HAD CCTV VIDEO FOOTAGE OF THE ACCIDENT. THE FAA IIC REVIEWED THE VIDEO FOOTAGE AND FOUND THE NARRATIVE CONSISTENT WITH THE EVIDENCE. THE FAA IIC MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT THE PILOT, AND EVENTUALLY MADE CONTACT ON 10/25/2024, AND CONDUCTED AN INTERVIEW WITH THE PILOT AND THE INVESTIGATING FAA OPS ASI.  DURING THE INTERVIEW, THE PILOT ADMITTED THE AIRCRAFT WAS OUT OF ANNUAL AND 100 HOUR INSPECTIONS, AND THAT HE HAD NOT FLOWN THE AIRCRAFT "IN QUITE A WHILE". ADDITIONALLY, THE PILOT ADMITTED THAT HE DID NOT HAVE A CURRENT MEDICAL CERTIFICATE. THE PILOT HAS OFFERED TO VOLUNTARILY SURRENDER HIS FAA FLIGHT CERTIFICATES.

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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