20080304012549A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Robsin R22 BETA · Meraux, LA · March 4, 2008

Date: March 4, 2008 · 09:00 local
Place: Meraux, LA
Phase of flight: Hovering
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N120KC
NTSB investigation: NTSBDFW08CA075
Reported as: Robsin R22BETA
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 2,200 total100 in this make and model50 in the last 90 days

N120KCRegistration cancelled Sep 20, 2017 · Robinson Helicopter R22 BETAS/N 3064 · Built 2000 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) The pilot attempted to what appears an over gross takeoff in windy conditions. The helicopter was brought to a two foot hover, at which point, the pilot stated he heard the low rotor warning. The aircraft started a turn slowly 90 degrees facing north and then made two 360 degree turns at a rapid rate. The pilot attempted to land. The aircraft bounced, impacted a small mound of dirt rolling the aircraft over. No injuries. Aircraft basic empty weight is 855.8 lbs. Gross weight is 1365.0 lbs. Pilot and passenger weight approximately 230 lbs each.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO WHAT APPEARS AN OVER GROSS TAKEOFF IN WINDY CONDITIONS. THE HELICOPTER WAS BROUGHT TO A TWO FOOT HOVER, AT WHICH POINT, THE PILOT STATED HE HEARD THE LOW ROTOR WARNING. THE AIRCRAFT STARTED A TURN SLOWLY 90 DEGREES FACING NORTH AND THEN MADE TWO 360 DEGREE TURNS AT A RAPID RATE. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LAND. THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED, IMPACTED A SMALL MOUND OF DIRT ROLLING THE AIRCRAFT OVER. NO INJURIES. AIRCRAFT BASIC EMPTY WEIGHT IS 855.8 LBS. GROSS WEIGHT IS 1365.0 LBS. PILOT AND PASSENGER WEIGHT APPROXIMATELY 230 LBS EACH.

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 DFW08CA075Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportMeraux, LAThe pilot's failure to ensure calculate weight and balance prior to flight. A contributing factor was the prevailing gusty winds.Mar 4, 2008 · Substantial damage