Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA II accident near Apollo Beach, FL
On November 30, 2012, a Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA II (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Apollo Beach, FL. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- November 30, 2012
- Place
- Apollo Beach, FL
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA II · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 27.781°N, 82.431°W
- NTSB ID
- 20121130X74908
Official records · ERA13FA070
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn November 30, 2012, about 1512 eastern standard time, a Robinson R22 BETA II, N2626N, operated by Fly N Choppers, was substantially damaged when it impacted water, following a main rotor blade separation in flight near Apollo Beach, Florida. The airline transport pilot was fatally injured. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight that departed Peter O Knight Airport (TPF), Tampa, Florida, about 1502. According to radar data provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the helicopter departed its home base at Clearwater Airpark (CLW), Clearwater, Florida, about 1405. It flew over the local area and landed briefly at TPF, before performing another local flight. Witnesses reported that the helicopter was flying along the beach, from north to south, about 500 feet above ground level. The witnesses heard a bang, followed by a main rotor blade separation. The helicopter then immediately rolled right and descended nose down in to a bay, about 200 yards from shore. The last radar target was recorded at 1511:51, indicating an altitude of 200 feet, about 400 yards from shore. Review of the previous five radar targets revealed that the helicopter had climbed from approximately 500 feet, to 800 feet, before descending into the water. PERSONNEL INFORMATIONThe pilot, age 60, held an airline transport pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land, airplane single-engine sea, airplane multiengine
Probable cause
Mast bumping for reasons that could not be determined because one main rotor blade was not recovered.
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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.
