19980621016829A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Robsin R22 BETA · Freer, TX · June 21, 1998

Date: June 21, 1998 · 08:50 local
Place: Freer, TX
Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N982SH
NTSB investigation: NTSBFTW98LA278
Reported as: Robsin R22BETA
Reported engine: Lycoming VO360*
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 2,000 total180 in this make and model30 in the last 90 days

N982SHRegistration cancelled Jul 11, 2001 · Robinson Helicopter R22 BETAS/N 2786 Airframe modelRobinson Helicopter R22 BETA

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(.4)The 2,000 hour helicopter pilot lost control of the aircraft after the tail rotor impacted the ground while he flared the helicopter. The pilot reported to the FAA inspector that while herding cattle, a bull separated from the herd and the pilot turned the helicopter towards the bull to gather him back into the herd. The pilot added that as he approached the bull, he flared the helicopter in a nose high attitude to stop the forward movement. The pilot further stated that he lost control of the helicopter after the tail rotor impacted the ground. The right skid broke as the helicopter spun 180 degrees to the right, coming to rest on its right side. The 1998 model helicopter had accumulated a total of 233 hours since new. A completed NTSB form 6120.1/2 was not returned to the NTSB by either the pilot nor the operator. (.19) see .19 for complete narrative

As the FAA filed it

(.4)THE 2,000 HOUR HELICOPTER PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AFTER THE TAIL ROTOR IMPACTED THE GROUND WHILE HE FLARED THE HELICOPTER. THE PILOT REPORTED TO THE FAA INSPECTOR THAT WHILE HERDING CATTLE, A BULL SEPARATED FROM THE HERD AND THE PILOT TURNED THE HELICOPTER TOWARDS THE BULL TO GATHER HIM BACK INTO THE HERD. THE PILOT ADDED THAT AS HE APPROACHED THE BULL, HE FLARED THE HELICOPTER IN A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE TO STOP THE FORWARD MOVEMENT. THE PILOT FURTHER STATED THAT HE LOST CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER AFTER THE TAIL ROTOR IMPACTED THE GROUND. THE RIGHT SKID BROKE AS THE HELICOPTER SPUN 180 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT, COMING TO REST ON ITS RIGHT SIDE. THE 1998 MODEL HELICOPTER HAD ACCUMULATED A TOTAL OF 233 HOURS SINCE NEW. A COMPLETED NTSB FORM 6120.1/2 WAS NOT RETURNED TO THE NTSB BY EITHER THE PILOT NOR THE OPERATOR. (.19) SEE .19 FOR COMPLETE NARRATIVE

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB FTW98LA278Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportFreer, TXThe pilot's failure to maintain tail rotor-ground clearance due to his improper flare while hovering.Jun 21, 1998 · Substantial damage