Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II accident near Destin, Florida, November 26, 2015
On November 26, 2015 at about 5:45 pm local time, a 2003 Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, registered N7512N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Destin, Florida (Destin Executive airport). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The overstress fracture between the tail rotor driveshaft and intermediate flex plate for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 26, 2015 · about 5:45 pm local time
- Place
- Destin, Florida · Destin Executive · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, built 2003
- Registration
- N7512N · registry record · serial 10131
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial pilot was performing a power check before an air tour flight with three passengers onboard. While raising the collective, he heard a loud "pop." He then immediately lowered the collective and secured the helicopter. Postaccident examination of the helicopter revealed that an overstress fracture existed between the tail rotor driveshaft and intermediate flex plate. Examination revealed that all the hardware was in place except for a washer, which is required at each connection between the clutch shaft yoke and flex plate per a caution in the helicopter's maintenance manual. The maintenance manual also contained measurements to determine proper shimming required at the intermediate flex plate. A review of maintenance records revealed that, about 11 flight hours before the accident, the sprag clutch had been removed and replaced. The mechanic who performed the clutch removal and installation stated that the measurements he took at the intermediate flex plate during and after his repairs were the same. He also indicated that, when they installed new hardware, he obtained the same dimensions. Although a misalignment of the intermediate flex coupling would place significant tension along the entire length of the driveshaft between the main rotor gearbox and tail rotor gearbox and a missing washer both could have caused a fatigue-type failure of the tail rotor drive line, the parts fractured due to overstress, not fatigue; therefore, it is unlikely that the missing hardware contributed to the failure. The reason for the overstress fracture between the tail rotor driveshaft and intermediate flex plate could not be determined based on the available evidence.
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
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,021 hours in all; 90 in the last 90 days; 24 in the last 30 days; 972 as pilot in command; 100 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 2, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,758.8 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 12, 2015; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5 (piston); 1,770 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DTS Destin FL at 5:45 pm
- Destination: DTS Destin FL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.42 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from DTS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.