20040427006469A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Robsin R22 BETA · Squaw Valley, CA · April 27, 2004

Date: April 27, 2004 · 14:15 local
Place: Squaw Valley, CA
Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N7521P
NTSB investigation: NTSBLAX04CA198
Reported as: Robsin R22BETA
Reported engine: Lycoming O360*
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,006 total470 in this make and model39 in the last 90 days

N7521PRegistration cancelled Aug 16, 2013 · Robinson Helicopter R22 BETAS/N 3342 · Built 2002 Airframe modelRobinson Helicopter R22 BETA Engine modelLycoming O-360 seriesReciprocating

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.

(-23) Pilot attempted to demonstrate an approach to a saddle to the passenger at 8,395 ft MSL. Pilot stated as he approached the saddle he did not intend to land but his ground speed was higher than his airspeed and elected to attempt a landing. At this time the pilot noted a tail wind. Pilot stated he was too close to the ground and elected to attempt a landing instead of a go around. Aircraft hit hard bounced into the air and landed again rolling to the left side damaging the tailboom and main rotors. No reported injuries to either occupants. The outside air temperature was reported to be 71 degrees f with gusty wind conditions. Pilot stated there were no mechanical irregularities.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) PILOT ATTEMPTED TO DEMONSTRATE AN APPROACH TO A SADDLE TO THE PASSENGER AT 8,395 FT MSL. PILOT STATED AS HE APPROACHED THE SADDLE HE DID NOT INTEND TO LAND BUT HIS GROUND SPEED WAS HIGHER THAN HIS AIRSPEED AND ELECTED TO ATTEMPT A LANDING. AT THIS TIME THE PILOT NOTED A TAIL WIND. PILOT STATED HE WAS TOO CLOSE TO THE GROUND AND ELECTED TO ATTEMPT A LANDING INSTEAD OF A GO AROUND. AIRCRAFT HIT HARD BOUNCED INTO THE AIR AND LANDED AGAIN ROLLING TO THE LEFT SIDE DAMAGING THE TAILBOOM AND MAIN ROTORS. NO REPORTED INJURIES TO EITHER OCCUPANTS. THE OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE WAS REPORTED TO BE 71 DEGREES F WITH GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS. PILOT STATED THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL IRREGULARITIES.

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 LAX04CA198Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportSquaw Valley, CAthe pilot's failure to maintain a proper descent rate during the landing approach, which resulted in a hard landing and roll over. Also causal was the pilot's inadequate compensation for tailwind conditions. A factor in the accident was the high density…Apr 27, 2004 · Substantial damage