- Date
- August 3, 2002, 17:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place
- Atlantic City, NJ
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N44EKRobinson R-44
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 17, 2003
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA FSDO-17
- FAA report
- 20020803037699A
- Case key
- 55427
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's improper flare during approach.
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 that while on final approach to the heliport, the wind shifted, which resulted in a higher sink rate and ground speed. To compensate, the pilot flared "harder" than normal, and the tail rotor struck the heliport perimeter fence. The reported wind speed at an airport approximately 10 miles away was from 130 degrees at 8 knots, with no gusts.
Factual narrative
On August 3, 2002, about 1700 eastern daylight time, a Robinson R-44, N44EK, was substantially damaged while landing at the Steel Pier Heliport (92N), Atlantic City, New Jersey. The certificated commercial pilot and two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the commercial sightseeing flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
The pilot stated that he was completing a 3-minute sightseeing flight. During his final approach to the heliport, the wind shifted, which resulted in a higher than normal sink rate. Additionally, a higher than anticipated ground speed caused the pilot to flare "harder." Subsequently, the tail rotor struck the heliport perimeter fence, and the helicopter began to spin. However, the pilot was able to land the helicopter uneventfully at the heliport. The pilot added that prior to the collision, he did not experience any mechanical malfunctions with the helicopter.
Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the tail rotor and gearbox had separated from the helicopter.
The reported winds at an airport approximately 10 miles west of the accident site, at 1654, were from 130 degrees at 8 knots, with no gusts.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N44EK
- Reported as
- Robinson R-44
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 0690C
- Airframe hours
- 1,006
- Engine
- Lycoming O-540, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work use · Part 91
- Operator
- Helicopter Services and Instruction
- Registered owner
- LBR Air LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · July 12, 2002 · 76 hours before
- Departed
- 92N · Atlantic City, NJ
- Destination
- 92N · NJ
- Airport
- 92N · Steel Pier Heliport
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
- 33
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Last flight review
- May 9, 2002
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 6,200 total · 1,800 in this make and model · 5,950 as pilot in command · 75 in the last 90 days · 30 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 130° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 86 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.13 inHg
- Observed at
- ACY, 10 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.
Other investigations on N44EK · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.