ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 275659
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| Date: | Saturday 19 February 2022 |
| Time: | 13:10 |
| Type: |  Robinson R44 Raven I |
| Owner/operator: | HD Aviation Services LLC |
| Registration: | N544SB |
| MSN: | 1759 |
| Year of manufacture: | 2007 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 1646 hours |
| Engine model: | Lycoming O-540-F1B5 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Miami Beach, FL -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Marathon, FL |
| Hollywood-North Perry Airport, FL (HWO/KHWO) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
On February 19, 2022, at 1310 eastern standard time, a Robinson Helicopter R44, N544SB, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Miami Beach, Florida. The pilot and two passengers sustained serious injuries. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
The helicopter pilot was flying about 450 ft above ground level over water paralleling a coastline. The engine suddenly developed a violent shaking and vibration, and engine power was lost. The pilot entered an autorotation, flew toward shallow water, and impacted the water hard about 10 seconds after the onset of the vibration. Examination of the engine revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction; however, the examination and teardown were significantly limited due to corrosion as a result of postaccident saltwater immersion.
Engine manufacturer guidance indicated that the helicopter was at an increased risk of stuck valves due to being operated in a region with high ambient temperatures, in addition to operating at lower altitudes and slower airspeeds. Within the year preceding the accident, a total of four engine cylinders had been overhauled and replaced due to stuck valves and low compression. The postaccident examination found no evidence of a stuck intake or exhaust valve. Given the engine’s repeated history of stuck valves and low compression, combined with the pilot’s reported sensations felt during the loss of power, and the lack of any evidence of catastrophic engine failure, it is likely the engine again experienced a stuck valve, which resulted in the loss of engine power and a forced landing in water.
At the time of the accident, the helicopter was 37 flight hours past its manufacturer-required 100-hour inspection interval. Had the inspection intervals been followed, it is possible evidence of valve sticking may have been identified, as it had been several instances within the year before the accident.
Probable Cause: A loss of engine power due to a stuck valve, which resulted in an autorotation and a hard landing in water.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
https://www.local10.com/news/local/2022/02/19/helicopter-crashes-into-ocean-just-feet-from-miami-beach-shore/
https://miami.cbslocal.com/2022/02/19/helicopter-crash-miami-beach/
https://www.the-sun.com/news/4726972/what-happened-helicopter-crash-miami-florida/
https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104679
https://photos-e1.flightcdn.com/photos/retriever/83d62a32b3892b8e3600bf9648ec2d667cc1d331 (photo)
Location
Images:
Media:
This afternoon at 1:10 p.m., MBPD received a call of a helicopter crash in the ocean near 10 Street. Police and @MiamiBeachFire responded to the scene along with several partner agencies. Two occupants have been transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital in stable condition.
— Miami Beach Police (@MiamiBeachPD) February 19, 2022
1/2 pic.twitter.com/heSIqnQtle
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 19-Feb-2022 19:31 | gerard57 | Added |
| 19-Feb-2022 19:45 | harro | Updated [Location, Embed code] |
| 19-Feb-2022 19:49 | harro | Updated [Time, Embed code, Category] |
| 19-Feb-2022 19:52 | RobertMB | Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Other fatalities, Source, Embed code, Narrative, Category] |
| 19-Feb-2022 19:52 | harro | Updated [Embed code] |
| 19-Feb-2022 23:59 | RobertMB | Updated [Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Operator, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 21-Feb-2022 12:42 | harro | Updated [Nature] |
| 04-Mar-2022 22:25 | Captain Adam | Updated [Nature, Departure airport, Source, Damage, Narrative, Category] |
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