# NTSB ERA24LA079: Robinson Helicopter R44, N828AK, Daytona Beach, FL, December 30, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: December 30, 2023, 14:04 local (19:04 UTC)
- Place: Daytona Beach, FL · Just prior to crossing over Interstate 95 westbound
- Coordinates: 29.163165, -81.07824 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.1632&lon=-81.0782&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining events: [Approach: Midair collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250); [Maneuvering: Midair collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- 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
- NTSB case key (mKey): 193587
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA079
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193587/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193587
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA079

## Probable cause (aircraft 1)

The UAS operator’s failure to operate within the limitations of the COA that he was using to operate inside class C airspace, which resulted in a collision between the UAS and the helicopter.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot of other aircraft (probable cause), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Knowledge: knowledge of procedures](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032010): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot of other aircraft (probable cause), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032010/cases.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032010/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause), aircraft 2; cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Knowledge: knowledge of procedures](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032010): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause), aircraft 2; cases with it: [All aircraft, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032010/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach: Midair collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250) (defining event), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250/sequence.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 196 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250/sequence.md)
- [Maneuvering: Midair collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250) (defining event), aircraft 2; cases with it: [All aircraft, 196 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250/sequence.md)

## Analysis (aircraft 1)

The pilot of the helicopter reported that while flying at an indicated altitude around 200 to 300 ft, while on approach to land at an off-airport landing zone, he saw a black “drone” [unmanned aerial system (UAS)] in front of his windscreen. He attempted to avoid the UAS but was unable and the UAS impacted the main rotor resulting in substantial damage to a main rotor blade. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. The UAS operator reported that he was conducting operations over a construction site. The area was inside of the class C airspace of a nearby airport and the UAS operator was using a Federal Aviation Administration Certificate of wavier or authorization (COA) that had been previously obtained by the construction company who hired him. The UAS operator reported that he was flying at an altitude of 180 ft, and that before the flight he had not realized that this altitude was above the maximum altitude of 150 ft imposed by the COA. The COA also required the UAS operator to notify the air traffic control tower at the nearby airport at least 15 minutes prior to the proposed start time of any operations. The UAS operator stated, and a review of contact records by the air traffic control tower confirmed, that no call was received from the UAS operator notifying them of the operation. Additionally, the drone operations manager for the construction company who contracted the UAS operator reported that the operator was supposed to check in with the on-site supervisor before conducting operations and stated that this did not happen on the day of the accident.

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: [N828AK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N828AK), registered now, S/N 1689, built 2007 (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 O-540-F1B5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-540-f1b5) (registry code 42353, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1689
- Year built: 2007
- Airframe hours: 4964
- Engines: Lycoming O-540-F1B5 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Other work use, Part 91
- Operator: Tunica Helicopters LLC, doing business as Leading Edge Helicopters
- Registered owner: Old City Helicopter Sales LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, December 11, 2023, 5 hours before
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: DAB, Daytona Beach International
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: FA3XNWMRAN (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: DJI MAVIC 2 (PRO)
- Category: Unknown, unmanned
- Serial number: 163DF81001N020
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Other work use, Part 107
- Airworthiness certificate: None
- Destination: Same as departure

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot, aircraft N828AK; age 29; injuries: none; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 19, 2023; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 342.5 total, 203.9 in this make and model, 298 as pilot in command, 121.7 in the last 90 days, 30.3 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours
- Pilot, aircraft 2; age 57; injuries: none; remote; medical: unknown; last flight review August 1, 2023; seat: none; restraint: none; flight hours: 450 total, 450 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 14 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observed at: DAB, 1 nm away
- METAR: KDAB 301853Z 25014G19KT 10SM FEW050 15/04 A3011 RMK AO2 SLP195 T01500044

## 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 20231230020052A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231230020052A), Dec 30, 2023: Robinson Helicopter R44, Daytona Beach, FL, Substantial damage. December 30, 2023, 1400 local time; a helicopeter, R-44, returning from an air tour operation, part 91, with one pilot and two passengers on board and during…

## Docket (8 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 25, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193587. 5.9 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16547880&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20Helicopter%20Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record a�� helicopter pilot's estimated altitude (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16548281&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Helicopter%20pilot%20altitude-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record a�� drone operator statement (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 69 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16535421&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Drone%20Operator%20Statement-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, air traffic control facility manager (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16535101&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20DAB%20ATC%20Manager-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record - construction company drone operations manager (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 92 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16681205&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Drone%20Operations%20Manager-Rel.pdf
- FAA certificate of wavier or authorization (item 6, PDF, 3 pages, 382 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16548183&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Form%207711-1%20COA_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigation photographs (item 7, PDF, 3 pages, 434 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16547791&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20ERA24LA079-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum - revised report (item 8, PDF, 8 pages, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16737579&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=sUAS%20Case%20Revision%20Memo_Redacted_Printed-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.

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