# NTSB MIA84LA096: Heinemann Rotorway Executive, N44818, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, March 4, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 4, 1984, 12:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Ft. Lauderdale, FL
- Location: 26.1223° N, 80.1434° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Fort Lauderdale, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.1223&lon=-80.1434&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31088
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA84LA096
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31088/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA84LA096

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, hover
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - lift-off - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of familiarity with aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, hover

## Analysis

THE COMMERCIAL/ATP PLT WAS NOT RATED FOR HELICOPTERS. HE STATED THAT 'WHILE IN FLT POSITION' TO CHECK THE CYCLIC PRESSURES, A STRONG GUST OF WIND LIFTED THE HELICOPTER OFF THE GROUND & ROLLED IT OVER ON ITS SIDE. HE BELIEVED THAT THIS WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED IF THE HELICOPTER HAD BEEN FACING THE WIND. APRX 5 MI NORTHWEST AT THE FT LAUDERDALE-HOLLYWOOD INTERL AIRPORT, THE WIND WAS FROM 110 DEG AT 8 KTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N44818](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N44818-2013-04-01), registration cancelled 2013-04-01, S/N 2933 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HEINEMANN ROTORWAY EXECUTIVE (ROTORWAY E)
- Registry model: [Heinemann Klaus Dieter ROTORWAY EXEC](https://openairdocs.org/model/heinemann-klaus-dieter-rotorway-exec) (registry code 13017BV) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter, amateur-built
- Serial number: 2933
- Airframe hours: 30
- Engines: ROTORWAY 145 reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 91
- Registered owner: Klaus Heinemann
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: FXE, FT. LAURDALE, FL
- Airport: Ft. Lauderdale Exec.

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 10,000 total, 5 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 110° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: FLL, 5 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 19840304008929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840304008929A), Mar 4, 1984: Amtr ROTORWAYEXEC, Ft Lauderdale, FL, Destroyed. Helicopter collided with ground during hover test flight when wind rolled aircraft over on its side.

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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