- Date
- January 28, 2018, 13:50 local (18:50 UTC)
- Place
- Homstead, FL
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N127AGRobinson Helicopter R22
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 23, 2018
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20180128001669A
- Case key
- 96663
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 diverted attention to his phone while maneuvering at a low altitude, which resulted in collision with terrain.
Findings · 4
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 reported that, while maneuvering at a low altitude over a field, he looked down at his phone in the cockpit, and by the time he looked back outside, the helicopter's left skid had struck the ground. Subsequently, the helicopter rolled onto its left side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, tailboom, and rotor systems. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that, while maneuvering at a low altitude over a field, he looked down at his phone in the cockpit, and by the time he looked back outside, the left skid of the helicopter had struck the ground. Subsequently, the helicopter rolled onto its left side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, tail boom and rotor systems. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N127AG
- Reported as
- Robinson Helicopter R22 (Beta)
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 0814
- Built
- 1988
- Airframe hours
- 3,058.3
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-B2C, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work use · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · January 19, 2018
- Departed
- Homestead, FL
- Destination
- Homestead, FL
- Equipment
- Unknown
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
- 28
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter, Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- February 22, 2016
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 781 total · 184 in this make and model · 574 as pilot in command · 57 in the last 90 days · 55 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 120° at 14 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.04 inHg
- Observed at
- KHST, 1 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 20, 2018, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 228 KB 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.