- Date
- July 4, 2023, 19:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place
- Myrtle Beach, SC · On Airport
- Injuries
- 3 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- N7507XRobinson Helicopter R44
- Defining event
- Taxi: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20230704006689A
- Case key
- 192520
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 control of the helicopter during a hover taxi, which resulted in a rollover.
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 was taxiing the helicopter about 3 ft above the ground in preparation to takeoff when his door popped open. The pilot said he instinctively removed his left hand from the collective to shut the door; however, before he could even reach the door, the collective lowered and there was reduction in power. The helicopter then rolled over on to its right side, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and main rotor system. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions that contributed to the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7507X
- Reported as
- Robinson Helicopter R44
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 1218
- Built
- 2002
- Airframe hours
- 4,228.7
- Engine
- Lycoming O-540-F1B5, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Ghgk LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · June 29, 2023
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
- Airport
- MYR · Myrtle Beach Intl
- Equipment
- Stall warning system, ADS-B, Onboard weather, Satellite tracking device
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
- 26
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 12, 2023
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 335 total · 281 in this make and model · 255 as pilot in command · 172 in the last 90 days · 145 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 260° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility
- 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 2,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 89 °F, dew point 80 °F
- Observed at
- MYR, 3 nm away
Docket · 5
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 31, 2023, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 32.5 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.