No fatalities

ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44 accident at Daytona Beach, FL, 30 Dec 2023

Daytona Beach, FL, United States

On December 30, 2023, a ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44 operated by Leading Edge Helicopters was involved in an aviation accident near Daytona Beach, FL. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The UAS operator’s failure to operate within the limitations of the COA that he was using to operate inside class C airspace, which resulted in a collision between the UAS and the helicopter. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 14 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

Probable cause

The UAS operator’s failure to operate within the limitations of the COA that he was using to operate inside class C airspace, which resulted in a collision between the UAS and the helicopter.

— NTSB Determination

Contributing factors

Pilot of other aircraftPilot

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 30 Dec 2023 ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44 accident near Daytona Beach, FL?

The UAS operator’s failure to operate within the limitations of the COA that he was using to operate inside class C airspace, which resulted in a collision between the UAS and the helicopter.

Were there any fatalities in the 30 Dec 2023 ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44 accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 30 Dec 2023 involved a ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44, operated by Leading Edge Helicopters, at Daytona Beach, FL.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The UAS operator’s failure to operate within the limitations of the COA that he was using to operate inside class C airspace, which resulted in a collision between the UAS and the helicopter.