Helicopter Crashes Along Miami Beach Shoreline, Two People Transported to Hospital
20:48 GMT 19.02.2022 (Updated: 21:47 GMT 19.02.2022)
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At least two individuals have been hospitalized with trauma injuries after a helicopter plummeted into the ocean just off the coast of Miami Beach, Florida, on Saturday afternoon.
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation into a Robinson R44 helicopter that went down "under unknown circumstances", crashing into the Atlantic Ocean at around 1:10 p.m., local time, on February 19.
Authorities have confirmed that two of the three occupants have been taken to Jackson Memorial's Ryder Trauma Center. All three individuals are in stable condition.
Footage of the downing has since been tweeted by the Miami Beach Police Department. The incident reportedly occurred near the beach area off 10th Street and Ocean Drive, prompting closures between 9th and 11th Street.
This afternoon at 1:10 p.m., MBPD received a call of a helicopter crash in the ocean near 10 Street. Police and @MiamiBeachFire responded to the scene along with several partner agencies. Two occupants have been transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital in stable condition.
— Miami Beach Police (@MiamiBeachPD) February 19, 2022
1/2 pic.twitter.com/heSIqnQtle
Eyewitness footage taken moments after the crash showed a number of concerned beachgoers swimming near the site.
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South Beach Miami Helicopter crash pic.twitter.com/6dmdGFx2pB
— iggy luko (@LukoIggy) February 19, 2022
The aircraft, identified as a Robinson R44, has been the subject of FAA scrutiny for some time, due to a litany of often fatal flaws, as well as repeated reports of low-impact crashes over the past two decades.
From 2006 to 2016, the Robinson R44 was associated with at least 42 fatal crashes in the US alone, translating to 1.6 deadly incidents per 100,000 hours flown, according to the Los Angeles Times.
As of last year, at least 313 Robinson R44-involved crashes have been reported worldwide, resulting in 176 deaths.
![Robinson R44 helicopter, Portage, Alaska, USA
[Helicóptero Robinson R44, Portage, Alaska, Estados Unidos] - Sputnik International, 1920, 19.02.2022](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/02/13/1093187392_0:0:3485:2048_1920x0_80_0_0_6ed893ea2140cafe590c6dd16fd0cfcb.jpg "Robinson R44 helicopter, Portage, Alaska, USA
[Helicóptero Robinson R44, Portage, Alaska, Estados Unidos]")
Robinson R44 helicopter, Portage, Alaska, USA
[Helicóptero Robinson R44, Portage, Alaska, Estados Unidos]
While many issues plaguing the Robinson Helicopter Company's controversial chopper remain unreported, 'mast bumping' has previously been identified as the cause of at least 18 deaths in New Zealand.
'Mast bumping' occurs when an inner part of the main rotor mechanism collides with the main rotor drive shaft. Contributing factors include turbulence and low-gravity events, which could lead to the chopper breaking up mid-flight.
