Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II accident near Miami, Florida, February 1, 2024
On February 1, 2024 at about 11:34 pm local time, a 2015 Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, registered N521LS, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Miami, Florida. 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
Tail rotor contact with an unseen object while performing a precautionary landing to a closed helipad at night.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 1, 2024 · about 11:34 pm local time
- Place
- Miami, Florida · 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 2015
- Registration
- N521LS · registry record · serial 13907
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During an air tour flight at night, the pilot of the helicopter noted that the oil pressure and temperature gauges were displaying indications that were in the “red area” so he decided to perform a precautionary landing to a closed helipad. During the precautionary landing, while maneuvering the helicopter just prior to touchdown, the tail rotor contacted a plastic pipe that protruded up about 2 ft from the ground. The pilot further described that it was very dark and that he was unable to see the pipe. Following the tail rotor strike, the helicopter landed hard, deforming the landing skids. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer during the accident.
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
- Hard landing during landing
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Hidden/submerged object › Effect on equipment
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Dark › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 520 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 90 in the last 90 days; 33 in the last 30 days; 400 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 5, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,159.8 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 8, 2023
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HWO Pembroke Pines FL at 11:35 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 320° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,500 ft; scat
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from KMIA, 8 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KMIA 020053Z 32003KT 10SM FEW055 SCT250 20/12 A3007 RMK AO2 SLP183 T02000122
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
INVESTIGATIVE PHOTOS Photograph 1 – Tail rotor assembly with fracture tail rotor.
INVESTIGATIVE PHOTOS Photograph 2 – Helicopter with displaced skids
INVESTIGATIVE PHOTOS Photograph 3 – Fractured tail rotorThe 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 April 12, 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 | Memorandum for Record A�� Telephone Interview, Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Investigative Photos | PDF, 4 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.
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.