Robinson Helicopter R44 accident near Daytona Beach, Florida, October 14, 2022
On October 14, 2022 at about 5:11 pm local time, a 2016 Robinson Helicopter R44, registered N306MB, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Daytona Beach, Florida (Daytona Beach Intl airport). It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s misjudged landing point which resulted in a loss of control and collision with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 14, 2022 · about 5:11 pm local time · cases in 2022
- Place
- Daytona Beach, Florida · Daytona Beach Intl · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter R44, built 2016 · all R44s on the register
- Registration
- N306MB · registry record · serial 2439
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was attempting to land on a mobile helipad. During the landing the helicopter landed “off center” and rolled over onto its side. The helicopter collided with the terrain and sustained substantial damage. The pilot did not report any mechanical anomalies that would preclude normal operation. The helicopter was examined by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector after the accident. The examination confirmed that the airframe and main rotor blades were substantially damaged. No flight control anomalies were discovered 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
- Roll over during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, military
- Ratings: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 297 hours in all; 19 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 148 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 31, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: condition inspection, September 17, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-F1B5 (piston); 2,082 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Daytona Beach FL at 4:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from KDAB, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KDAB 142053Z 04010KT 10SM FEW040 FEW100 27/19 A2995 RMK AO2 SLP142 T02720189 56005
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – View of helicopter resting on right side showing damage to main rotors and tail boom.
Photo 2 – View of aft of helicopter resting right side showing buckled tail boom.The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on June 7, 2023. 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 | Mfr FAA Correspondence | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Investigative Photos | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N306MB on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Robinson R44 1,948 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-F1B5 299 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Daytona Beach International · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Florida 6,111 since 1982 · 984 in the last ten years
- Florida 21,704 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA23LA021.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.