# NTSB ANC06CA057: Robinson R-44, N14MY, Indiantown, FL, May 19, 2006

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 19, 2006, 15:05 local (19:05 UTC)
- Place: Indiantown, FL
- Coordinates: 27.036388, -80.440002
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.0364&lon=-80.4400&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 3, 2006
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 63727
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC06CA057
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63727/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC06CA057

## Probable cause

A hard landing and subsequent nose down when the helicopter pilot misjudged the landing flare during a touchdown autorotation.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - autorotation - performed, pilot in command
  - terrain condition - grass
  - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose down, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

The private certificated helicopter pilot reported to the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC) that he had practiced two or three autorotations at a grass/turf covered runway that terminated with a power recovery to a hover during a CFR Part 91 personal flight.  He decided to perform a touch-down autorotation, and said that he pulled excessive collective pitch during the termination of the maneuver, and accelerated too much while leveling the helicopter at the conclusion of the deceleration flare.  The helicopter touched down hard and tilted forward onto its nose, the forward portion of the right skid tube fractured, and the main rotor blades struck the ground and the tailboom.

## Factual narrative

The private certificated helicopter pilot reported to the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC) that he had practiced two or three autorotations at a grass/turf covered runway that terminated with a power recovery to a hover during a CFR Part 91 personal flight.  He decided to perform a touch-down autorotation, and said that he pulled excessive collective pitch during the termination of the maneuver, and accelerated too much while leveling the helicopter at the conclusion of the deceleration flare.  The helicopter touched down hard and tilted forward onto its nose, the forward portion of the right skid tube fractured, and the main rotor blades struck the ground and the tailboom.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N14MY](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N14MY), registered now, S/N 1149 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Robinson R-44
- Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R44](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44) (registry code 7640120) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1149
- Engines: Lycoming O-540-F1B5 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Henry A. Perry
- Registered owner: Henry A. Perry
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: SUA, Stuart, FL
- Destination: X58, Indiantown, FL
- Airport: X58, Indiantown, runway 31, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; flight hours: 3,464 total, 327 in this make and model, 74 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20060519015789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060519015789A), May 19, 2006: Robsin R44, Indiantown, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) On may 19, 2006 a Robinson R44 helicopter N14MY, registered to the pilot [privacy data omitted] was flying from witham field airport (kusa) to Indiantown…

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.

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