Robinson Helicopter R44 accident near North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, May 26, 2022
On May 26, 2022 at about 5:40 pm local time, a 2002 Robinson Helicopter R44, registered N132TC, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (hover) near North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (Grand Strand airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The fractured attachment lug on the forward clutch shaft yoke due to fatigue failure with multiple origins.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 26, 2022 · about 5:40 pm local time
- Place
- North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina · Grand Strand · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter R44, built 2002 · all R44s on the register
- Registration
- N132TC · registry record · serial 1259
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Seconds after liftoff to a hover, the helicopter began to “aggressively shudder.” Loud, rapid reports were heard, and the nose of the helicopter yawed to the left. The instructor assumed control of the helicopter, closed the throttle, and performed an autorotation from a hover, landing the helicopter upright on its skids; however, the airframe sustained substantial damage. The instructor completed an engine shutdown, egressed the helicopter, and noticed that the main rotor was still turning while the tail rotor remained stationary. A cursory examination of the helicopter revealed that the clutch shaft yoke fractured at one of its two bolt lugs where the yoke attached to the flex plate. All other damage depicted appeared to be impact damage from the rotating assemblies left unsecured by the fractured lug. Examination of the damaged yoke and flexplate in the NTSB materials laboratory revealed a fractured attachment lug on the forward clutch shaft yoke due to fatigue failure with multiple origins.
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) during maneuvering (hover) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor › Main rotor drive › Engine/transmission coupling › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,240 hours in all; 1,048 in this make and model; 167 in the last 90 days; 68 in the last 30 days; 1,150 as pilot in command; 445 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 34.2 hours in all; 32.2 in this make and model; 32.2 in the last 90 days; 12.3 in the last 30 days; 1.3 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,711 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 13, 2022; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540 F1B5 (piston); 3,711 hours total
- Operator: High Tide Helicopters LLC
The flight
- Departed from: SUT Southport NC at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 05, 5,997 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from KCRE, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KCRE 261753Z 11009KT 10SM CLR 24/20 A3017 RMK AO1 SLP215 T02440200 10250 20183 57012
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
8 documents, released by the NTSB on March 28, 2024. 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 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | View of Turning Main Rotor and Stopped Tail Rotor (Operator) | MOV file | Download |
| 4 | Manufacturer's Parts Diagram of Yoke and Flexplate | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photo Array | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Materials Laboratory Factual Report 22-050 | PDF, 16 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Safety Advisory Notice (ATSB) | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (FAA) | PDF, 2 pages | 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.