- Date
- March 5, 2011, 05:55 local (10:55 UTC)
- Place
- Weston, FL
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N4168WRobinson Helicopter R44 II
- Defining event
- Enroute-cruise: Miscellaneous/other
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dawn
- Status
- Completed · report August 11, 2011
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20110305002169A
- Case key
- 78497
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude and physical alertness which resulted in an in-flight collision with the water. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's fatigue.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot stated that he was on a cross country flight at 1,000 feet mean sea level. About 1 hour 25 minutes into the flight, he recalled the sound of water hitting the helicopter and the next thing he remembered was after the impact. He further reported there was no mechanical failure or malfunction with the helicopter, and the cause of the crash was due to fatigue. The pilot stated that he had three days of restless sleep and no appetite prior to the accident due to stress.
Factual narrative
The pilot stated that he had lack of appetite and sleep during the previous 3 days which made him fatigued. He awoke about 0400, and departed about 0430, for a cross country flight which was flown between 1,000 and 1,200 feet and 102 knots. About 1 hour 25 minutes into the flight, or at 0555, he recalled the sound of water hitting the helicopter and the next thing he remembers was being very still and quiet. He realized he had crashed, released his restraint, and called his girlfriend via cellular phone for help. A search was initiated and he reported being rescued about 1030, then airlifted to a hospital for treatment. He further reported there was no mechanical failure or malfunction of the helicopter, and the cause of the crash was "...due to fatigue."
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4168W
- Reported as
- Robinson Helicopter R44 II
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 12276
- Airframe hours
- 259
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Bravo Helicopters, Inc.
- Registered owner
- Bravo Helicopters, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · December 10, 2010
- Departed
- St. Cloud, FL
- Destination
- TMB · Miami, FL
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 51
- Injuries
- Serious
- Certificates
- Commercial, Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- September 14, 2010
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 6,550 total · 475 in this make and model · 6,550 as pilot in command · 66 in the last 90 days · 26 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dawn
- Wind
- 90° at 17 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 8,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 64 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.11 inHg
- Observed at
- PMP, 23 nm away
Docket · 6
The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 17, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.2 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.