# NTSB ERA11CA080: Robinson Helicopter R44, N451DB, Canal Point, FL, December 8, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 8, 2010, 05:40 local (10:40 UTC) - Place: Canal Point, FL - Coordinates: 26.716667, -80.583335 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.7167&lon=-80.5833&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-hover: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 20, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 77958 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11CA080 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77958/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77958 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA080 ## Probable cause Pilot fatigue due to lack of sleep resulting in incapacitation (falling asleep) and ground contact while maneuvering at a low altitude. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Alertness/Fatigue: lack of sleep](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02013510): Personnel issues › Physical · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02013510/cases.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02013510/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-hover: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, at 0030 he was called to fly for the purpose of frost mitigation. At 0540, while flying over an agricultural field about 30 feet above ground level, he began his last pass over the field, and fell asleep. Subsequently, the helicopter impacted the ground and came to rest on its left side. He said that the previous day he awoke about 0700, and went on duty at 1800. About 1930, he flew the helicopter on a 1-hour flight and attempted to take a nap at 2100. The nap was interrupted with noise and lights constantly being turned on and off, and he accrued no more than 1 hour of rest. An examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the fuselage, rotor system, and tail boom. There were no mechanical anomalies with the helicopter. At the time of the accident the pilot had no more than 1 hour of restless sleep in the previous 22 hours 40 minutes. He also reported that he did not normally fly at night. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, the previous day he awoke about 0700, and went on duty at 1800. About 1930, he flew the helicopter on a 1-hour flight and attempted to take a nap at 2100. The nap was interrupted with noise and lights constantly being turned on and off, and he accrued no more than 1 hour of rest. At 0030, on the morning of the accident, he was called to fly for the purpose of frost mitigation. About 0540, while flying over an agricultural field about 30 feet above ground level, he began his last pass over the field, and "fell asleep." Subsequently, the helicopter impacted the ground and came to rest on its left side resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage, rotor system, and tail boom. An examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed there were no mechanical anomalies with the helicopter. At the time of the accident the pilot had no more than 1 hour of restless sleep in the previous 22 hours 40 minutes. The pilot also reported that he did not normally fly at night. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N451DB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N451DB-2011-02-10), registration cancelled 2011-02-10, S/N 1395, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44 - 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: 1395 - Airframe hours: 2043 - Engines: LYCOMING O-540 SERIES 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Operator: Bravo Helicopters - Registered owner: Bravo Helicopters - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 15, 2010 - Departed: NONE, Canal Point, FL - Destination: NONE, Canal Point, FL - Airport: NONE, None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport, flight engineer, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 7, 2010; seat: right; flight hours: 15,000 total, 500 in this make and model, 4,000 as pilot in command, 270 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 320° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: OBE, 30 nm away ## 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 20101208054589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101208054589A), Dec 8, 2010: Robinson He R44, Pahokee, FL, Substantial damage. FAA arrived at the accident scene at 1005 hrs. Palm beach sheriff was on scene with the area secured. PIC was no longer at accident site but spoke to deputy… ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 22, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77958. 807 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 559 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40340953&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports (item 2, .PDF, 17 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40340957&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports-Master.PDF - Pilot Interview Summary (item 3, .PDF, 24 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40340954&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Interview%20Summary-Master.PDF - Federal Aviation Adminitration Inspector Interview Summary (item 4, .PDF, 23 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40340956&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Federal%20Aviation%20Adminitration%20Inspector%20Interview%20Summary-Master.PDF - Pilot Sleep/Activity Log (item 5, .PDF, 57 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40340959&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Sleep%2FActivity%20Log-Master.PDF - Memorandum For Record: Sleep Activity (item 6, .PDF, 23 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40341393&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20For%20Record%3A%20Sleep%20Activity-Master.PDF - Helicopter Operator Information (item 7, .PDF, 23 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40341394&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Helicopter%20Operator%20Information-Master.PDF - Photo 1: Digital Photograph Provided by FAA. View of the Helicopter at the Accident Site (item 8, .PDF, 80 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40340958&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Digital%20Photograph%20Provided%20by%20FAA.%20View%20of%20the%20Helicopter%20at%20the%20Accident%20Site-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.