20000127000459A

(.19) On January 27, 2000, at 0800 central standard time, a Robinson R22 beta helicopter, N2330F, was substantially damaged during landing following a loss of main rotor RPM near Sarita, Texas. The aircraft was registered to a private individual and operated by mesquite helicopter services, of alice, Texas. The commercial pilot and the passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 code of federal regulations part 91 harvesting flight. The local flight originated from alice, Texas. The FAA inspector, who went to the accident site, reported that the helicopter's mission was to harvest nilgai antelope. After the passenger shot two nilgai antelope, the pilot maneuvered the helicopter at low altitude to lead the animal recovery vehicle to where the antelopes had fallen. As the pilot slowed the helicopter over a road, the main rotor low RPM warning sounded. The pilot leveled the helicopter's pitch attitude and reduced the collective to regain the main rotor RPM. The helicopter began to descend and the pilot increased collective to stop the descent, and the low RPM warning again sounded. The pilot again reduced the collective to regain main rotor RPM, and the helicopter continued to descend. At about 15 feet AGL, the pilot elected to do a run-on landing, and the helicopter touched down "hard with right lateral drift." A main rotor blade struck the tailboom, separating it at mid-length, and the aircraft came to rest on its left side. (.4)on January 27, 2000, at 0845 central standard time, a Robinson R22 beta helicopter , N2330F, was substantially damaged during a hard landing following a loss of main rotor RPM near Sarita, Texas. The a/c was registered to a private individual following a loss of main rotor RPM near Sarita, Texas. The a/c was registered to a private individual and operated by mesquite helicopter services, inc. of alice, Texas. Teh commercial pilot and the passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 code of federal regulation part 91 antelope hunting flight. The local flight originated from the kennendy randh at 0820. The helicopters mission was to harvest nigal antelope. After the apssenger shot a second nigal antelope, the pilot manuevered the helicopter downwind at 50 knots and 70 feet AGL, to lead the animal recovery vehicle to where the first antelop had fallen. The pilot executed a right turn to come to a hover over the antelope. As he started a "quick-stop, the engine began to lug down". He "rolled on the throttle, overriding the governor, and nosed (helicopter) over whil lowering the collective." The mainrotor low RPM warning sounded about the time he applied forward cyclic. The helicopter was "gaining airspeed but the RPM kept declining." Teh pilot "milked the collective; however, he was unable to regain rotor RPM. At about 3-5 feet AGL, teh rotor RPM was at 80 percent. The pilot leveled teh helicopter and attempted a run-on landing. "As the (helicopter) hit the ground," a main rotor blade struck the tail boom, separating it at mid-length. The a/c turned 90 degrees to the left and rolled over onto its left side. (-23)pilot attempted to hover oge with insufficient power available for the existing conditions. Aircraft settled and upon landing main rotor to tail-boom contact resulted. Aircraft came to rest on its left side.