Robinson R-44-II accident near Isla Grande, Puerto Rico, March 16, 2007
On March 16, 2007 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Robinson R-44-II (helicopter), registered N72PK, was substantially damaged in an accident near Isla Grande, Puerto Rico (Luis Munoz Marin Intl airport). It was a personal 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadvertent encounter with a loss of tail rotor effectiveness which resulted in damage to the helicopter during the subsequent hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 16, 2007 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Isla Grande, Puerto Rico · Luis Munoz Marin Intl
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-44-II · all R-44-IIs on the register
- Registration
- N72PK · registry record · serial 11581
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he was on a training flight, circling clockwise around a point, about 40 feet above ground level. He was approximately 400 feet from the point while at an indicated air speed of 35 knots. The aircraft suddenly started to increase its yaw rate to the right. He applied left pedal to stabilize the yaw rate, which continued to increase. He attempted to stop the high yaw rate with the appropriate pedal inputs, full left pedal; however, the aircraft continued yawing. The helicopter completed two rapid 360 degree rotations. He realized he was not able to correct the high yaw rate with pedal inputs and entered into a hovering autorotation, which stopped the yawing. He landed the helicopter without injuries or damage to any property; however, the aircraft sustained damage to the landing gear due to the hard landing. According to the helicopter manufacturer the helicopter sustained structural damage from the hard landing.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 310 hours in all; 100 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: JSJ Isla Grande PR
- Destination: Isla Grande PR
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,800 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 8:56 pm from TJSJ, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number MIA07CA107.