Robinson R44 N442H

Summary

On 27 October 2022 at about 19:00 local time, a Robinson R44 registered N442H was involved in an accident near Sarasota, Florida, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

27 October 2022 at 19:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Sarasota, Florida, United States

Coordinates

27.1978, -82.2451

Aircraft

Robinson R44

Registration

N442H

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2018

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Winter Haven → Englewood

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA23LA044

Nobody was injured.

An in-flight collision with a bird, which resulted in damage to a tail rotor blade, a subsequent vibration, and the pilot’s decision to conduct a precautionary landing to unsuitable terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While en route, the pilot saw birds in his flight path and banked the helicopter to the right to avoid striking one, after which he felt a vibration. The vibration continued, and the pilot performed a precautionary landing to a marshy area, where the helicopter rolled over, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. Examination of the helicopter revealed a dent in one of the tail rotor blades; no evidence of any other mechanical anomalies were noted that would have precluded normal operation. The tail rotor came to rest in marsh water and the blade did not display evidence of organic material consistent with a bird strike; however, given that the pilot identified and was maneuvering to avoid birds just before the vibration occurred, it is likely that the tail rotor was damaged during impact with a bird, resulting in the subsequent vibration.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.