20040708016959A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Robsin R22 BETA · Rochester, MN · July 8, 2004

Date: July 8, 2004 · 12:18 local
Place: Rochester, MN
Phase of flight: Landing
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N8118L
NTSB investigation: NTSBCHI04FA177
Reported as: Robsin R22BETA
Reported engine: Lycoming O320B2C
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1
Pilot’s flight hours: 0 total0 in this make and model0 in the last 90 days

N8118LRegistration cancelled Jan 25, 2008 · Robinson Helicopter R22 BETAS/N 2409 · Built 1994 Airframe modelRobinson Helicopter R22 BETA Engine modelLycoming 0-320 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) The Robinson R-22 crashed in a field, near Rochester, MN as it was on a low approach for landing. A witness and the owner of the helicopter stated to the FAA, the helicopter was coming from the southwest of a large barn on the farm property. It appeared to be a normal approach, with the helicopter at 100 feet AGL and approximately 30 knots of airspeed. It then "bobbled" and yawed left or right. The helicopter rolled over then fell to the ground. It was noted during the investigation the main rotor blade struck the tail boom and the helicopter was torn apart.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) THE ROBINSON R-22 CRASHED IN A FIELD, NEAR ROCHESTER, MN AS IT WAS ON A LOW APPROACH FOR LANDING. A WITNESS AND THE OWNER OF THE HELICOPTER STATED TO THE FAA, THE HELICOPTER WAS COMING FROM THE SOUTHWEST OF A LARGE BARN ON THE FARM PROPERTY. IT APPEARED TO BE A NORMAL APPROACH, WITH THE HELICOPTER AT 100 FEET AGL AND APPROXIMATELY 30 KNOTS OF AIRSPEED. IT THEN "BOBBLED" AND YAWED LEFT OR RIGHT. THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER THEN FELL TO THE GROUND. IT WAS NOTED DURING THE INVESTIGATION THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE STRUCK THE TAIL BOOM AND THE HELICOPTER WAS TORN APART.

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 CHI04FA177Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportRochester, MNThe loss of control due to the student pilot's failure to maintain rotor RPM and the flight instructor's inadequate supervision.Jul 8, 2004 · Destroyed