# NTSB MIA00LA011: Robinson R-44, N8364Z, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, October 19, 1999

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 19, 1999, 17:05 local (21:05 UTC)
- Place: Ft. Lauderdale, FL
- Coordinates: 26.189498, -80.169769 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.1895&lon=-80.1698&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 30, 2000
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 47608
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA00LA011
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47608/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA00LA011

## Probable cause

The PIC's improper use of cyclic control during landing which resulted in a main rotor strike of the terrain and the rotorcraft's tail boom.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Roll over, landing
  - cyclic - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
  - rotor system,main rotor blade - blade strike
  - misc rotorcraft,tail boom - cut/severed
  - landing gear,skid assembly - bent

## Analysis

The pilot stated that as he transitioned from hover to landing during the sales demonstration flight, the helicopter bounced 1 to 2 inches after touchdown, and he mistakenly applied right cyclic. The main rotor struck the ground and severed the tail boom, yawing the rotorcraft 180 degrees and damaging the landing skids.

## Factual narrative

On October 19, 1999, about 1705 eastern daylight time, a Robinson R-44, N8364Z, registered to Heliflight Leasing, Inc., operating as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 sales demonstration flight, sustained a main rotor strike and separation of the tail boom upon landing at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The helicopter received substantial damage and the CFI-rated pilot, a private pilot-rated student, and a passenger were not injured. The flight departed the same airport about  1 hour before the accident.

According to the pilot-in-command, as he set the helicopter down for final landing, the craft bounced 1 to 2 inches and at the top of the bounce, he mistakenly applied right cyclic. Despite his applying corrective controls, the main rotor collided with the ground and the tail boom. In rapid succession, the nose pivoted 180 degrees, the tail boom was severed, and the landing skids sustained ground collision damage. In subsequent telephone conversations with the NTSB, the pilot stated that there were no contributing factors such as surface winds, propeller or rotor wash, or helicopter control problems, and he would characterize the event as, "..just bad technique".

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8364Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8364Z), registered now, S/N 0426, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Robinson R-44
- Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R44](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44) (registry code 7640120) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 426
- Airframe hours: 391
- Engines: Lycoming O-540-F1B5 225 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 91
- Registered owner: Heliflight Leasing, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 22, 1999, 91 hours before
- Departed: FXE, FT. LAUDERDALE, FL
- Airport: FXE, Ft. Lauderdale Executive

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,978 total, 50 in this make and model, 200 in the last 90 days, 69 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 80° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 79 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: FXE

## 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 19991019030699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991019030699A), Oct 19, 1999: Robsin R44, Ft Lauderdale, FL, Substantial damage. (.19) On October 19, 1999, about 1708 eastern daylight time, a Robinson R-44, N8364Z, registered to heliflight leasing, inc., operating as a title 14 CFR part…

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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