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MIA04CA048

2004-01-23 · Vero Beach, Florida, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport KVRB

N77KK has since been reassigned. It is now registered to a different aircraft (PIPER PA-23-250, built 1980), which was not involved in this event.

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The failure of the pilot to maintain clearance with bushed resulting in in-flight contact and susequent dynamic roll-over.

Factual narrative

On January 23, 2004, about 0500 eastern standard time, a Robinson R44, N77KK, listed with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as "Registration Pending", rolled over while hover taxiing at the Vero Beach Municipal Airport, Vero Beach, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The heliocopter was substantially damaged and the private-rated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot stated he went out to warm up the helicopter about 0500, and while hover taxiing north to reposition the helicopter for a planned flight at 0730, the left skid contacted a hedge bush row and the helicopter rolled onto its left side. He further stated there was no mechanical failure or malfunction. His biennial flight review expired February 28, 2003. The pilot stated he went out to warm-up the helicopter about 0500, and while hover taxiing north to reposition the helicopter for a planned flight at 0730, the left skid contacted a hedge bush row and the helicopter rolled onto its left side. He further stated there was no mechanical failure or malfunction. His biennial flight review expired February 28, 2003. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2004_MIA04CA048.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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