# NTSB ERA23LA044: Robinson R44, N442H, Sarasota, FL, October 27, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 27, 2022, 15:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Sarasota, FL - Coordinates: 27.1978, -82.2451 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.1978&lon=-82.2451&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 106218 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA044 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106218/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106218 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA044 ## Probable cause An in-flight collision with a bird, which resulted in damage to a tail rotor blade, a subsequent vibration, and the pilot’s decision to conduct a precautionary landing to unsuitable terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Object/animal/substance: animal(s)/bird(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 358 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: animal(s)/bird(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 358 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md) ## Analysis While en route, the pilot saw birds in his flight path and banked the helicopter to the right to avoid striking one, after which he felt a vibration. The vibration continued, and the pilot performed a precautionary landing to a marshy area, where the helicopter rolled over, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. Examination of the helicopter revealed a dent in one of the tail rotor blades; no evidence of any other mechanical anomalies were noted that would have precluded normal operation. The tail rotor came to rest in marsh water and the blade did not display evidence of organic material consistent with a bird strike; however, given that the pilot identified and was maneuvering to avoid birds just before the vibration occurred, it is likely that the tail rotor was damaged during impact with a bird, resulting in the subsequent vibration. ## Factual narrative On October 27, 2022, about 1500 eastern daylight time, a Robinson R44, N442H, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Sarasota, Florida. The flight instructor and passenger were seriously injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, while en route, he saw birds in his flight path, he banked to the right to avoid striking one, and then he felt a vibration in the helicopter. He moved the collective up and down in an attempt to stop the vibration; however, it continued. The pilot performed a precautionary landing to a marshy area, and the helocopter subsequently rolled over, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. Examination of the helicopter by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the tail rotor exhibited a dent. The inspector and a mechanic examined the helicopter for any anomalies and noted that there were no mechanical malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. The dent was examined for evidence of a bird strike; however, the dented side of the tail rotor landed in the marsh water and remained there until it was recovered, and no evidence of organic material was noted. ## Aircraft - Registration: N442H (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: ROBINSON R44 - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 14185 - Year built: 2018 - Airframe hours: 626 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540 205 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2022, 66 hours before - Departed: GIF, Winter Haven, FL - Destination: X36, Englewood, FL - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 2, 2021; seat: right; restraint: 3-point ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 9,500 ft broken - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.91 inHg - Observed at: SRQ, 21 nm away - METAR: KSRQ 271953Z 20011KT 10SM BKN095 27/22 A2991 RMK AO2 SLP129 T02670217 ## 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 20221027020599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221027020599A), Oct 27, 2022: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Sarasota, FL, Substantial damage. In route from winter haven airport (gif) N442H was flying back to buchan airport X36 when over myakka river state park the pilot started to experience a… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 29, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106218. 6.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 6.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16120289&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=LA044%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - pilot (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 77 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16107621&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Memo%20LA044-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - FAA inspector (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 69 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16107212&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Memo%20LA044-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 4 photos, 334 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16108781&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photographs%20-%20LA044-Rel.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.