Robinson R44 N323TC
18 February 2004 · Daytona Beach, Florida, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 18 February 2004 at about 18:00 local time, a Robinson R44 registered N323TC was involved in an accident near Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 18:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Daytona Beach, Florida, United States
- Nearest airport
- Spruce Creek (7FL6)
- Coordinates
- 29.0800, -81.0467
- Aircraft
- Robinson R44
- Registration
- N323TC
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Business
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Daytona Beach → Daytona Beach
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ANC04LA024
People
3 people had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions while hover taxiing, which resulted in a loss of control and subsequent in-flight collision with terrain and a rollover of the helicopter. A factor associated with the accident was a gusty wind condition.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The airline transport certificated pilot was departing from the airport's heliport for a local area business flight. He said that gusty wind conditions prevailed during the accident takeoff, and that just after takeoff, while hover taxiing to the active runway, a strong gust of wind from the right pushed the helicopter to the left, and over an area of grass-covered terrain. The helicopter subsequently descended, the left skid contacted an area of grass-covered terrain, and the helicopter began to roll to the left. As the roll continued, the main rotor blades contacted terrain, and the helicopter rolled onto its left side. The helicopter sustained structural damage to the tail boom, fuselage, and to the main rotor and tail rotor drive systems. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the helicopter.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Robinson R44 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 Dec 2004 | Robinson R44 | Vlakfontein Far, South Africa | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 27 Jun 2004 | Robinson R44 | Barnesville, Georgia, United States | - | Fatal | 3 |
| 8 Sep 2004 | Robinson R44 | Roma, Australia | Celestar PTY LTD | Fatal | 2 |
| 11 Sep 2004 | Robinson R44 | Vattlefjall, Sweden | HM-Jansson Akeri AB | Fatal | 3 |
| 24 Dec 2004 | Robinson R44 | Saga, Japan | S.G.C Saga Koukuu Company | Fatal | 3 |
| 5 Aug 2004 | Robinson R44 | Chesterfield, Missouri, United States | Midwest Aeronautical Training, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Oct 2004 | Robinson R-22 | Pompano Beach, Florida, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 12 Mar 2004 | Robinson R22 | Keystone, Florida, United States | Collective Helicopter Corp | No injuries | - |
| 13 Mar 2004 | Beechcraft BE90 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States | Execstar Aviation Inc | No injuries | - |
| 19 Jan 2004 | Piper PA-28-181 | Fort Pierce, Florida, United States | Pan Am International Flight Academy Inc. | Fatal | 2 |
| 1 Oct 2004 | Rotorway 162F | New Smyrna Beac, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 6 May 2004 | Beechcraft H35 | Fort Pierce, Florida, United States | Tim Sullivan | Minor injuries | - |