Robinson R44 II accident near Lake Wales, Florida, May 15, 2008
On May 15, 2008 at about 8:40 pm local time, a Robinson R44 II (helicopter), registered N911GJ, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Lake Wales, Florida (Lake Wales Municiple Airport). It was a public-use flight (local) under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper recovery from a practice autorotation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 15, 2008 · about 8:40 pm local time
- Place
- Lake Wales, Florida · Lake Wales Municiple Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R44 II · all R44 IIs on the register
- Registration
- N911GJ · registry record · serial 11054
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight (local) · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The certificated flight instructor (CFI) attempted a practice autorotation to a power recovery over a runway. During the recovery attempt, the helicopter hit the runway in a level attitude, bounced, touched down again, and rolled over. Winds at the time were variable at 5 knots. No preimpact mechanical anomalies were noted by ether the pilots, or by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector who examined the helicopter after the accident. The CFI reported 6,766 hours of flight experience as pilot in command, which included about 300 hours in the accident helicopter make and model.
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
- Simulated/training event during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Instructor/check pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor › Main rotor system › Main rotor blade system › Damaged/degraded
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,766 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 6,766 as pilot in command; 1,500 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,733 hours in all; 150 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days; 1,639 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 817 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 1, 2006; 19 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-AEI A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BOW Bartow FL at 7:30 pm
- Destination: X07 Lake Wales FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 06, 3,999 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from BOW, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
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.