# NTSB GAA18CA450: Robinson R44, N479AT, Lantana, FL, July 27, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 27, 2018, 18:45 local (22:45 UTC) - Place: Lantana, FL - Coordinates: 26.592777, -80.085281 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.5928&lon=-80.0853&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: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 18, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 97925 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA450 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97925/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97925 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA450 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s improper pitch control during landing, which resulted in a dynamic rollover. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) - [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) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot; cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/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) - [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: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 161 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The helicopter instructor reported that, during the approach to land, about 5 ft above the ground, the student pilot overcorrected and moved the cyclic "back hard and slightly right." The right rear skid contacted the ground, and the helicopter rolled to the right. The main rotor blades struck the ground, and the helicopter came to rest on its right side. The student reported that he believed the skid strike and unusual attitude were caused by his inexperience. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor blades, the fuselage, and the tailboom. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The helicopter instructor reported that, during the approach to land, about 5 feet above the ground, the student pilot overcorrected and moved the cyclic "back hard and slightly right". The right rear skid contacted the ground and the helicopter rolled to the right. The main rotor blades struck the ground and the helicopter came to rest on its right side. The student pilot reported that he believed the skid strike and unusual attitude were caused by his inexperience. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor blades, the fuselage and the tail boom. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N479AT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N479AT-2018-10-27), registration cancelled 2018-10-27, S/N 1768, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Robinson R44 (Undesignat) - 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: 1768 - Year built: 2007 - Airframe hours: 3720.8 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-F1B5 225 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Airmen Testing And Training Inc Dba - Registered owner: Airmen Testing And Training Inc Dba - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 4, 2018 - Departed: LNA, Lantana, FL - Destination: LNA, Lantana, FL - Airport: LNA, Palm Beach County Park, runway 16, 3,421 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 39; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 19, 2016; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,188.3 total, 163.8 in this make and model, 1,136.5 as pilot in command, 179.1 in the last 90 days, 58.5 in the last 30 days, 3.7 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 31; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 8, 2018; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 278 total, 3.2 in this make and model, 278 as pilot in command, 13.3 in the last 90 days, 3.2 in the last 30 days, 0.3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KPBI, 6 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). - [Accident 20180727018159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180727018159A), Jul 27, 2018: Robinson Helicopter R44, Lantana.., FL, Substantial damage. On July 27, 2018, at approximately 1850 EST, a Robinson R44, N479AT, registered and operated by ?airmen testing and training inc dba Palm Beach helicopters? A… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 1, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97925. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 600 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467937&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - CFI Statement (item 2, .PDF, 93 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467938&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=CFI%20Statement-Master.PDF - Student Statement (item 3, .PDF, 96 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467939&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Student%20Statement-Master.PDF - Accident Picture (item 4, .PDF, 1 photo, 427 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467940&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Picture-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.