Robinson R44 II N911GJ

Summary

On 15 May 2008 at about 20:40 local time, a Robinson R44 II registered N911GJ was involved in an accident near Lake Wales, Florida, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 May 2008 at 20:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Lake Wales, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Lake Wales Municiple Airport (X07)

Coordinates

27.8997, -81.4553

Aircraft

Robinson R44 II

Registration

N911GJ

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bartow → Lake Wales

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC08TA183

2 people had minor injuries.

The pilot's improper recovery from a practice autorotation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The certificated flight instructor (CFI) attempted a practice autorotation to a power recovery over a runway. During the recovery attempt, the helicopter hit the runway in a level attitude, bounced, touched down again, and rolled over. Winds at the time were variable at 5 knots. No preimpact mechanical anomalies were noted by ether the pilots, or by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector who examined the helicopter after the accident. The CFI reported 6,766 hours of flight experience as pilot in command, which included about 300 hours in the accident helicopter make and model.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.