What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(.19) On January 25, 2003, about 1745 eastern standard time, a Robinson R-22B helicopter, N7198U, was substantially damaged after landing at the Pittsfield Municipal Airport, Pittsfield, Massachusetts. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR part 91. In a written statement, the pilot said he landed on the ramp and was unaware that the area was covered with ice because of darkness. He turned off the governor, placed the cyclic and collective friction locks on, and brought the engine RPM to 80 percent for cool down. The helicopter began to turn 90 degrees counter-clockwise and slide backward. He applied right pedal, which countered the yaw; however, the helicopter continued to slide backward on the ice. The helicopter then contacted a snowbank and rolled over. The pilot reported 205 hours of total flight experience, which included 161 hours in make and model. (-23) on 1/25/2003, at 1745 EST, the pilot (robert c. herr), landed aircraft N198U, a model R-22, Robinson helicopter at Pittsfield airport (psf). Upo n reducing the engine RPM to 80%, the helicopter turned 90 degrees counter clockwise and began to slide backwards. The pilot applied right pedal which negated the counter clockwise yaw. However, the craft continued to slide backwards. The left skid struck a snow bank and the helicopter rolled over. The pilot was not injured. The pilot then learned that the ramp was covered with black ice. The helicopter was damaged substantially. The pilot used his truck to drag (while on it's side) the craft inside the hangar and called the NTSB.
As the FAA filed it
(.19) ON JANUARY 25, 2003, ABOUT 1745 EASTERN STANDARD TIME, A ROBINSON R-22B HELICOPTER, N7198U, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED AFTER LANDING AT THE PITTSFIELD MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, PITTSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS. THE CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED FOR THE PERSONAL FLIGHT CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91. IN A WRITTEN STATEMENT, THE PILOT SAID HE LANDED ON THE RAMP AND WAS UNAWARE THAT THE AREA WAS COVERED WITH ICE BECAUSE OF DARKNESS. HE TURNED OFF THE GOVERNOR, PLACED THE CYCLIC AND COLLECTIVE FRICTION LOCKS ON, AND BROUGHT THE ENGINE RPM TO 80 PERCENT FOR COOL DOWN. THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO TURN 90 DEGREES COUNTER-CLOCKWISE AND SLIDE BACKWARD. HE APPLIED RIGHT PEDAL, WHICH COUNTERED THE YAW; HOWEVER, THE HELICOPTER CONTINUED TO SLIDE BACKWARD ON THE ICE. THE HELICOPTER THEN CONTACTED A SNOWBANK AND ROLLED OVER. THE PILOT REPORTED 205 HOURS OF TOTAL FLIGHT EXPERIENCE, WHICH INCLUDED 161 HOURS IN MAKE AND MODEL. (-23) ON 1/25/2003, AT 1745 EST, THE PILOT (ROBERT C. HERR), LANDED AIRCRAFT N198U, A MODEL R-22, ROBINSON HELICOPTER AT PITTSFIELD AIRPORT (PSF). UPO N REDUCING THE ENGINE RPM TO 80%, THE HELICOPTER TURNED 90 DEGREES COUNTER CLOCKWISE AND BEGAN TO SLIDE BACKWARDS. THE PILOT APPLIED RIGHT PEDAL WHICH NEGATED THE COUNTER CLOCKWISE YAW. HOWEVER, THE CRAFT CONTINUED TO SLIDE BACKWARDS. THE LEFT SKID STRUCK A SNOW BANK AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER. THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. THE PILOT THEN LEARNED THAT THE RAMP WAS COVERED WITH BLACK ICE. THE HELICOPTER WAS DAMAGED SUBSTANTIALLY. THE PILOT USED HIS TRUCK TO DRAG (WHILE ON IT'S SIDE) THE CRAFT INSIDE THE HANGAR AND CALLED THE NTSB.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.