ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44
Fort Pierce, FL — December 5, 2017
Event Information
| Date | December 5, 2017 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | GAA18CA072 |
| Event ID | 20171205X35855 |
| Location | Fort Pierce, FL |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 27.49222, -80.36806 |
| Airport | TREASURE COAST INTL |
| Highest Injury | MINR |
Aircraft
| Make | ROBINSON HELICOPTER |
| Model | R44 |
| Category | HELI |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 1 |
| None | 1 |
| Total Injured | 1 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a tail strike and hard landing.
Full Narrative
The helicopter pilot reported that, while hovering to land on a helipad, the tail struck the ground. He added that the helicopter landed hard and rolled over onto the left side.
The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, main rotor blades, and tail boom.
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
A review of recorded data from the automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, about 20 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 130° at 10 knots.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.