- Date
- January 13, 1994, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place
- Miami, FL
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N931KCRobinson R-22
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 18, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940113000379A
- Case key
- 37479
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-in-command's improper supervision of an unqualified pilot while maneuvering at a low altitude. This resulted in a loss in rotor rpm due to improper flight control input (upward collective pitch), and subsequent in-flight collision with terrain.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot stated she was in cruise flight with the cabin doors removed, when she looked outside and her glasses blew off. She directed the passenger, who has a private pilot, single engine land airplane rating to fly the helicopter, while she looked outside trying to locate her glasses. The passenger descended to 4 to 5 feet agl, and made two low passes over the field, while she continued to look for her glasses. She heard the passenger state, 'Lori, Lori,' and heard the rotor rpm horn blaring. She took the the flight controls and lowered the collective pitch. The helicopter collided with the ground, and rolled over on its right side.
Factual narrative
On January 13, 1994, about 1630 eastern standard time, a Robinson R22, N931KC, registered to Husta Aviation, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, collided with terrain in cruise flight. The helicopter was destroyed. The commercial pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Opa Locka, Florida, about 15 minutes before the accident.
The pilot stated that she was operating with the cabin doors removed from the helicopter. While in cruise flight between 100 to 300 feet agl she looked outside of the helicopter and her glasses blew off. She directed the passenger, who has a private pilot with a single engine land airplane rating, to fly the helicopter while she looked outside trying to locate her glasses. The passenger descended to 4 to 5 feet agl, and made two low passes over the field while she continued to look for her glasses. She heard the passenger state, "Lori, Lori," and heard the rotor rpm horn blaring. She took the flight controls and lowered the collective pitch. The helicopter collided with the ground and rolled over on its right side.
Review of airman records on file with the Federal Aviation Administration, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, revealed the pilot did not hold an instructor rating in helicopters. The passenger did not hold an airman rating in helicopters, and his medical certificate is expired.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N931KC
- Reported as
- Robinson R-22
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 2318
- Airframe hours
- 259
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-B2C, 124 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Husta Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · October 28, 1993 · 86 hours before
- Departed
- OPF · Opa Locka, FL
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
- 27
- Certificates
- Private, Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 2,557 total · 51 in this make and model · 2,535 as pilot in command · 51 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 220° at 11 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- TMB, 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.