Robinson R44 II N521LS

Summary

On 1 February 2024 at about 23:34 local time, a Robinson R44 II registered N521LS was involved in an accident near Miami, Florida, United States. 4 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

1 February 2024 at 23:34

Classification

Accident

Location

Miami, Florida, United States

Coordinates

25.7841, -80.1736

Aircraft

Robinson R44 II

Registration

N521LS

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2015

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Pembroke Pines → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

ERA24LA118

Nobody was injured.

Tail rotor contact with an unseen object while performing a precautionary landing to a closed helipad at night.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During an air tour flight at night, the pilot of the helicopter noted that the oil pressure and temperature gauges were displaying indications that were in the “red area” so he decided to perform a precautionary landing to a closed helipad. During the precautionary landing, while maneuvering the helicopter just prior to touchdown, the tail rotor contacted a plastic pipe that protruded up about 2 ft from the ground. The pilot further described that it was very dark and that he was unable to see the pipe. Following the tail rotor strike, the helicopter landed hard, deforming the landing skids. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer during the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.