# NTSB MIA98LA143: Orlando Heli Air TR-2000, N202TR, Lakeland, FL, April 25, 1998

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 25, 1998, 08:20 local (12:20 UTC)
- Place: Lakeland, FL
- Coordinates: 27.980525, -82.01033 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9805&lon=-82.0103&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report December 8, 1998
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 38507
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA98LA143
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38507/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA143

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to obtain the proper touch down point (landed left of runway) on landing.

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water collision with object, landing
  - proper touchdown point - not obtained, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command
- Nose down, landing - roll

## Analysis

The pilot landed to the left of the designated runway, collided with a raised portion of a taxiway, became airborne, and collided with the ground hard in a nose down right wing low attitude. The right main landing gear separated, and the airplane rotated around the vertical axis to the left. The left wing tip collided with the ground and the airplane nosed down coming to rest on its nose.

## Factual narrative

On April 25, 1998, about 0820 eastern daylight time, an Orlando Heli Air Inc., TR-2000,  experimental airplane, registered to Orlando Heli Air Inc., operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 photo flight, crashed on landing at the Lakeland-Linder Regional Airport, Lakeland, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The commercial pilot reported minor injuries. The flight originated from Lakeland-Linder Airport, about 1 hour before the accident.

The pilot stated he made a landing to the sod runway. On landing rollout the airplane crossed a taxiway, became airborne, and collided with the ground hard in a nose down, right wing low attitude. The right main landing gear separated and the airplane rotated around the vertical axis to the left. The left wing tip collided with the ground and the airplane nosed down, coming to rest on its nose, separating the propeller assembly. The pilot did not realize he landed left of the runway until after the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N202TR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N202TR-2014-12-18), registration cancelled 2014-12-18, S/N 2001, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ORLANDO HELI AIR INC. TR-2000
- Registry model: [Orlando Helicopter Airways TR-2000](https://openairdocs.org/model/orlando-helicopter-airways-tr-2000) (registry code 05603IO) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 2001
- Airframe hours: 75
- Engines: Thruct In TR-200 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 91
- Operator: Layman F Rodgers Jr.
- Registered owner: Orlando Heli Air Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, April 21, 1997, 75 hours before
- Departed: LAL
- Airport: LAL, Lakeland-Linder Regional, runway 9, 3,000 × 150 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 68; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 5,000 total, 75 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 40° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: LAL

## 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 19980425007669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980425007669A), Apr 25, 1998: Lakeland, FL, Substantial damage. Photo flight landed sod runway. Ballooned crossing taxiway. Came down nose first wing low. Folded gear. Nosed up.

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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