# Accident 20120421007209A: Robinson Helicopter R22 ALPHA, Palmer, AK, April 21, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 21, 2012, 15:00 local time
- Place: Palmer, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: UPXL
- Location: 61.6728° N, 149.4028° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.6728&lon=-149.4028&mi=10
- Aircraft: N121MR, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N121MR-2018-04-04) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R22 ALPHA (registry code 7640104, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-alpha) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG (registry code 99999, https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22 ALPHA
- Reported engine: AMA/EXPR UNKNOWN ENG
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,285 total, 1,100 in this make and model, 6 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC12CA032](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12CA032) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120421007209A

## Narrative

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

PILOT LANDED OFF AIRPORT IN THE SNOW.  WHEN COLLECTIVE WAS REDUCED A/C TILTED TO THE REAR. WHEN PILOT PICKED UP THE A/C THE TAIL ROTOR STRUCK THE SNOW.

## 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 ANC12CA032](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12CA032), Apr 21, 2012: Robinson Helicopter R22 Alpha (N121MR), Palmer, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in a tailrotor strike.

## Other reports on N121MR (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20161218022589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161218022589A), Dec 18, 2016: Robinson Helicopter R22 ALPHA (N121MR), Hatcher Pass, AK, Substantial damage. Rotor RPM decayed on approach to pinnacle, aircraft settled on steep terrain. Tail rotor struck hill and the tail boom seperated from the aircraft. The…

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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