# NTSB GAA16CA075: Robinson Helicopter R44, N4427H, West Palm Beach, FL, December 9, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 9, 2015, 08:40 local (13:40 UTC) - Place: West Palm Beach, FL - Coordinates: 26.845832, -80.222503 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.8458&lon=-80.2225&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 14, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA South Florida FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 92426 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA075 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92426/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92426 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA075 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing, which resulted in a horizontal rotation of the helicopter, and abnormal runway contact. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed 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) - [Rotorcraft flight control: tail rotor control system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046720): Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046720/cases.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046720/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: yaw control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: 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) - [Landing: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The solo student helicopter pilot reported that he conducted eight traffic pattern flights to a full stop on the runway. On his ninth approach, he was at the bottom of the landing transitioning to a hover, and he increased power while simultaneously applying left pedal. He reported that as he entered the hover his airspeed was "close to 5 knots or less" and his altitude was "approximately 5 to 10 feet above ground level," the helicopter began to rapidly yaw to the right, he applied full left pedal, and the helicopter rotated "approximately 450 to 460 degrees." The student pilot reported that the helicopter began to "wobble," he lowered the collective to land, the helicopter bounced once, and then skidded to a stop. A postflight inspection revealed substantial damage to the fuselage and tail boom. The student pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The student pilot reported that the wind was 060 degrees at 3 knots at the accident airport, approximately one hour prior to the accident time. The closest weather reporting station to the accident airport is 12 nautical miles away, and reported that the wind was calm approximately 13 minutes after the accident time. ## Factual narrative The solo student helicopter pilot reported that he conducted eight traffic pattern flights to a full stop on the runway. On his ninth approach, he was at the bottom of the landing transitioning to a hover, and he increased power while simultaneously applying left pedal. He reported that as he entered the hover his airspeed was "close to 5 knots or less" and his altitude was "approximately 5 to 10 feet above ground level," the helicopter began to rapidly yaw to the right, he applied full left pedal, and the helicopter rotated "approximately 450 to 460 degrees." The student pilot reported that the helicopter began to "wobble," he lowered the collective to land, the helicopter bounced once, and then skidded to a stop. A postflight inspection revealed substantial damage to the fuselage and tail boom. The student pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The student pilot reported that the wind was 060 degrees at 3 knots at the accident airport, approximately one hour prior to the accident time. The closest weather reporting station to the accident airport is 12 nautical miles away, and reported that the wind was calm approximately 13 minutes after the accident time. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4427H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4427H), registered now, S/N 0923, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44 (UNDESIGNAT) - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R44](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44) (registry code 7640120) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540F1 SERIE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540f1-serie) (registry code 41531, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 0923 - Year built: 2000 - Airframe hours: 1587.6 - Engines: Lycoming O-540F1 225 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 19, 2015 - Departed: F45, West Palm Beach, FL - Destination: F45, West Palm Beach, FL - Airport: F45, North Palm Beach County Genera, runway 08L, 3,679 × 75 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 48; injuries: none; student, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 126 total, 27 in this make and model, 22 as pilot in command, 56 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: KPBI, 12 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). - [Incident 20151209020469I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20151209020469I), Dec 9, 2015: Robinson Helicopter R44, West Palm Beach, FL, Minor damage. The aircraft was on a normal approach to the hover and as he transitioned into the hover the machine yawed to the right and the student lost control of the… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 8, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92426. 3.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437468&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Student Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 172 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437471&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Student%20Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Accident Photographs (Courtesy of Student Pilot) (item 3, .PDF, 2 photos, 401 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437469&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photographs%20(Courtesy%20of%20Student%20Pilot)-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.