# NTSB ERA11LA380: Robinson Helicopter R44, N64JM, Lakewood, NJ, July 4, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 4, 2011, 16:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Lakewood, NJ - Coordinates: 40.066665, -74.17778 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0667&lon=-74.1778&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-hover: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 6, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 81006 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11LA380 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81006/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81006 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11LA380 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate yaw control of the helicopter while hovering. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: yaw control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/cases.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 149 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-hover: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 43 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Autorotation: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that the helicopter was facing southeast and that the wind was from the southwest at 3 knots, resulting in a 90-degree right crosswind. As soon as the pilot lifted to a hover and began to move forward, the helicopter began to spin to the right. He applied full left pedal input, but the spin continued. He maneuvered the helicopter away from nearby aircraft and into a clear area where he executed a hovering autorotation. Upon touchdown, the skids spread, and the occupants exited the helicopter. Postaccident examination of the helicopter revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction of the tail rotor drive system components. ## Factual narrative **This report was modified on 2/1/2012. For a copy of the original report, please see the public docket for this accident.** On July 4, 2011, about 1630 eastern daylight time, a Robinson Helicopter Company R44, N64JM, registered to 64JM LLC, landed hard during a hovering autorotation at Lakewood Airport (N12), Lakewood, New Jersey. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 positioning flight from N12 to Monmouth Executive Airport (BLM), Belmar/Farmingdale, New Jersey. The helicopter sustained substantial damage, and the certificated commercial pilot and one passenger were not injured. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot stated that the purpose of the flight was to reposition the helicopter to BLM. While facing southeast with the wind from the southwest at 3 knots, as soon as he lifted to a hover and began to move forward, he lost complete anti-torque control. The helicopter began to spin to the right, and he applied full left pedal input but the spin continued. He maneuvered the helicopter away from nearby aircraft and into a clear area where he executed a hovering autorotation. Upon touchdown, the skids spread and the occupants exited the helicopter. Postaccident inspection of the helicopter by a Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness inspector revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction of the tail rotor drive system components. The Rotorcraft Flying Handbook indicates that unanticipated yaw/loss of tail rotor effectiveness (LTE) is the occurrence of an uncommanded yaw rate that does not subside of its own accord and, which, if not corrected, can result in the loss of helicopter control. LTE that is not attributed to equipment or maintenance malfunction may occur in all single-rotor helicopters at airspeeds less than 30 knots. It is the result of the tail rotor not providing adequate thrust to maintain directional control, and is usually caused by either certain wind azimuths (directions) while hovering, or by an insufficient tail rotor thrust for a given power setting at higher altitudes. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N64JM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N64JM-2017-05-23), registration cancelled 2017-05-23, S/N 1020, built 2001 (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: 1020 - Airframe hours: 1352 - Engines: LYCOMING O-540-F1B5 205 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: Ocean Helicopter - Registered owner: 64jm LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 1, 2011, 20 hours before - Departed: N12, Lakewood, NJ - Destination: BLM, Farmingdale, NJ - Airport: N12, Lakewood Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 19, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 806 total, 305 in this make and model, 711 as pilot in command, 192 in the last 90 days, 66 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 29.80 inHg - Observed at: NEL, 8 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 20110704017609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110704017609A), Jul 4, 2011: Robinson Helicopter R44, Lakewood, NJ, Substantial damage. According to the PIC the aircraft was being repostioned from N12 to kblm at approximately 1630 EDT on 04 July 2011 with one passenger aboard. As soon as the… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 21, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81006. 1.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 538 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40358401&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 10 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351359&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 3, .PDF, 24 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40358402&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Master.PDF - Record of NTSB Conversation (item 4, .PDF, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40358484&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20NTSB%20Conversation-Redacted.PDF - Excerpts from Rotorcraft Flying Handbook (item 5, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40358489&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpts%20from%20Rotorcraft%20Flying%20Handbook-Master.PDF - Revisions to Factual Report February 1 2012 (item 6, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40362371&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Revisions%20to%20Factual%20Report%20February%201%202012-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.