ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II
Pahokee, FL — December 8, 2010
Event Information
| Date | December 8, 2010 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | ERA11CA081 |
| Event ID | 20101208X00511 |
| Location | Pahokee, FL |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 26.78444, -80.68945 |
| Airport | Palm Beach County Glades |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY |
| Model | R44 II |
| Category | HELI |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 2 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter during takeoff.
Full Narrative
The pilot stated that he completed the before takeoff checks and got the helicopter "light on the skids" before lifting off from the refueling pad. A slight yaw to the left became a rapid spin to the left that could not be corrected with right-pedal input. The pilot closed the throttle, lowered collective, and closed the mixture control to arrest the spin. On the fourth rotation, the tail struck a pole-mounted fire extinguisher, and the helicopter came to rest upright. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the helicopter, and stated that his heavy coat and boots worn to combat the unseasonably cold weather may have interfered with the flight controls.
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.