# NTSB ERA11CA180: Robinson Helicopter R44 II, N4168W, Weston, FL, March 5, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 5, 2011, 05:55 local (10:55 UTC) - Place: Weston, FL - Coordinates: 26.262222, -80.547225 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.2622&lon=-80.5472&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report August 11, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 78497 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11CA180 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78497/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78497 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA180 ## 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 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 II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02013510/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02013510/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 39 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Altitude deviation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/282); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/282/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 104 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/282/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 95 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4168W-2011-06-14), registration cancelled 2011-06-14, S/N 12276, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii) (registry code 7640122) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-ae1a5) (registry code 41899, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 12276 - Airframe hours: 259 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: serious; 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 ## 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 20110305002169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110305002169A), Mar 5, 2011: Robinson He R44 II, Weston, FL, Destroyed. FAA arrive at the scene of the accident at 1400 hrs. Florida fish and wildlife conservation commission officer were in the boat ramp waiting to take us to the… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 17, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78497. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 796 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345917&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 19 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40346349&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Record of NTSB Conversation (item 3, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40346340&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20NTSB%20Conversation-Redacted.PDF - Record of FAA Interview (item 4, .PDF, 56 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40346323&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20FAA%20Interview-Redacted.PDF - Helicopter Report Supplement (item 5, .PDF, 118 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40346324&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Helicopter%20Report%20Supplement-Master.PDF - Photo 1: Digital Photograph Provided by FAA. View of the Wrewckage at the Accident Site. (item 6, .PDF, 1 photo, 202 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40346347&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Digital%20Photograph%20Provided%20by%20FAA.%20View%20of%20the%20Wrewckage%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.