# NTSB ERA11CA081: Robinson Helicopter R44 II, N666SL, Pahokee, FL, December 8, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 8, 2010, 07:20 local (12:20 UTC) - Place: Pahokee, FL - Coordinates: 26.784444, -80.689445 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.7844&lon=-80.6894&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 8, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 77959 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11CA081 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77959/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77959 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA081 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter during takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: yaw control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 149 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that before lifting off from the refueling pad, he maneuvered the helicopter where the skids were still on the ground, but lightly touching and not supporting its entire weight. The helicopter made a slight yaw to the left which accelerated into a rapid spin to the left that he could not correct with right pedal input. In an attempt to arrest the spin, the pilot closed the throttle, lowered the collective, and closed the mixture control. On the fourth rotation, the tailboom struck a pole-mounted fire extinguisher, and the helicopter came to rest upright. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the helicopter. He further stated that his heavy coat and boots worn to combat the unseasonably cold weather may have interfered with the flight controls. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that he completed the before takeoff checks and got the helicopter "light on the skids" before lifting off from the refueling pad. A slight yaw to the left became a rapid spin to the left that could not be corrected with right-pedal input. The pilot closed the throttle, lowered collective, and closed the mixture control to arrest the spin. On the fourth rotation, the tail struck a pole-mounted fire extinguisher, and the helicopter came to rest upright. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the helicopter, and stated that his heavy coat and boots worn to combat the unseasonably cold weather may have interfered with the flight controls. ## Aircraft - Registration: N666SL (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 11941 - Airframe hours: 424 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-AE1A5 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Downrite Engineering Corp - Registered owner: Downrite Engineering Corp - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 22, 2010, 88 hours before - Departed: PHK, Pahokee, FL - Destination: PHK, Pahokee, FL - Airport: PHK, Palm Beach County Glades ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine sea, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 20, 2010; seat: right; flight hours: 3,000 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 2,500 as pilot in command - Student pilot; age 54; injuries: none; student; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 31 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 32 °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 20101208053889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101208053889A), Dec 8, 2010: Robinson He R44 II, Pahokee, FL, Substantial damage. Pilot had refueled at night during a cross country flight. His student did not feel comfortable moving the aircraft from the area. There were other helicopters… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 27, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77959. 1.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 321 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40341250&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 38 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40341111&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Passenger Statement (item 3, .PDF, 96 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40341112&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Passenger%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - FAA Record of Interview with Pilot (item 4, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40341113&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Record%20of%20Interview%20with%20Pilot-Redacted.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.