Robinson R44 accident near Ochopee, FL
On January 22, 2008, a Robinson R44 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Ochopee, FL. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- January 22, 2008
- Place
- Ochopee, FL
- Aircraft
- Robinson R44 · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 25.861°N, 80.881°W
- NTSB ID
- 20080128X00108
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On January 22, 2008, at 1234 eastern standard time, (unless otherwise noted, all times are based on a 24 hour clock) a Robinson R44, N18HB, registered to Alex Mill Developments Inc., collided with the ground while maneuvering over runway 27 at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport, in the vicinity of Ochopee, Florida. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and the helicopter received substantial damage. The airline transport rated pilot, and private pilot passenger were fatally injured. The flight departed Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport on January 22, 2008, at 1233. A witness who was working at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport, mowing the grass, stated the helicopter had been practicing takeoffs and landings between 20 minutes to 1 hour. He observed the helicopter at a hover above the grass; north and parallel to the taxiway, short of the runway 27 hold line. The helicopter went up very fast to an altitude of about 200 feet and made a right turn above runway 27 in a nose down attitude. The tail of the helicopter turned 45 degrees to the left side of the runway. The helicopter made a roll to the left and became inverted. The rotor blades stopped and the helicopter continued the roll to the left until it became right side up and descended in a nose down, left turn colliding with the ground and catching fire, followed by an explosion. The daughter of the registered owner stated the
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while maneuvering. Contributing to the accident were a tailwind condition and the pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision.
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Browse: Florida · Robinson aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
