# Accident 20030125000709A: Robsin R22BETA, Pittsfield, MA, January 25, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 25, 2003, 17:45 local time
- Place: Pittsfield, MA
- Airport: Pittsfield Municipal Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.4267° N, 73.2928° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4267&lon=-73.2928&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7198U, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7198U-2013-11-13) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA (registry code 7640110, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O-360 series (registry code 41575, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBSIN R22BETA
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC03LA045](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC03LA045) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030125000709A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.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.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB NYC03LA045](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC03LA045), Jan 25, 2003: Robinson R-22B (N7198U), Pittsfield, MA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain control, which resulted in a rollover. Factors in this accident were the night light conditions, ice covered ramp and a snowbank.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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