Robinson Helicopter R44 accident near Orlando, Florida, February 10, 2014
On February 10, 2014 at about 2:30 pm local time, a 2013 Robinson Helicopter R44, registered N7040U, was substantially damaged in an accident during standing (engine(s) start-up) near Orlando, Florida (Premium Heliport airport). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection in which he failed to remove the tail rotor covers, which resulted in the failure of the tail rotor drive shaft during engine start.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 10, 2014 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Orlando, Florida · Premium Heliport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter R44, built 2013 · all R44s on the register
- Registration
- N7040U · no longer on the register · serial 2262
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, while conducting a preflight inspection, he overlooked the removal of the tail rotor covers. He started the helicopter and shortly thereafter he heard a "snap", and the helicopter began to "shake". The helicopter was immediately shutdown and a visual inspection revealed substantial damage to the tail rotor drive shaft. The pilot reported no other preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Preflight or dispatch event during standing (engine(s) start-up)
- Miscellaneous/other during standing (engine(s) start-up) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Preflight inspection › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Misc hardware › (general) › Inadequate inspection
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: instrument helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,470 hours in all; 800 in this make and model; 110 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 1,330 as pilot in command; 525 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 17, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 395 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 18, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-F1B5 (piston); 395 hours total
- Operator: Air Force LLC
The flight
- Departed from: 7FA5 Orlando FL at 2:30 pm
- Destination: 7FA5 Orlando FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway H1, 31 ft by 31 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 2:30 pm from ISM, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
7 documents, released by the NTSB on May 1, 2014. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Statement from Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Witness Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photo 1. Tail Rotor Cover (Photo Courtesy of Air Force Fun Inc.) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photo 2. Severed Tail Rotor Drive Shaft (Photo Courtesy of Air Force Fun Inc.) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Photo 3. Severed Tail Rotor Drive Shaft End 1 (Photo Courtesy of Air Force Fun Inc.) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Photo 4. Severed Tail Rotor Drive Shaft End 2 (Photo Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.