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20121003022809A

Accident · Substantial damage
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FAA accident report · Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA · Rockport, WA · October 3, 2012

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

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Date
October 3, 2012 · 13:30 local
Place
Rockport, WA
Airport
Skagit Regional
Phase of flight
Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage
Substantial damage
Aircraft
N80140
NTSB investigation
NTSBWPR13LA003
Reported as
Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta
Reported engine
Lycoming 0-320 series
People aboard
2
Fatal injuries
0
Other injuries
0
Pilot’s certificate
Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours
646 total198 in this make and model8 in the last 90 days
N80140Registered now · Robinson Helicopter R22 BETAS/N 1030 · Built 1989Airframe modelRobinson Helicopter R22 BETAEngine 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.

October 03, 2012 N80140 a Robinson R22 helicopter departed Skagit Regional Airport (kbvs) to the north towards Mt. Baker climbing to approximately 4500 feet above ground level (AGL) for a personal sightseeing flight. At 1330 pilot and passenger noticed a white van parked in a canyon. Pilot circled to get a better look. At this point while over the indian creek canyon the pilot stated the clutch warning light came on steady. Pilot started descending and told passenger to be ready to pull the clutch circuit breaker under his knee. Pilot began a slow steady 360 turn while looking for the best place to set down. The clutch warning light was still on after 10-12 seconds. Pilot instructed passenger to pull the clutch circuit breaker. Shortly thereafter the low RPM warning light and horn came on. Pilot immediately lowered the collective and started heading for the nearest landing spot that didn't have large trees. He flared at 20 to 30 feet and cushioned the landing with the remaining collective at 3 to 5 feet above the ground. There were no injuries to pilot and passenger. The helicopter sustained substantial damage.

As the FAA filed it

OCTOBER 03, 2012 N80140 A ROBINSON R22 HELICOPTER DEPARTED SKAGIT REGIONAL AIRPORT (KBVS) TO THE NORTH TOWARDS MT. BAKER CLIMBING TO APPROXIMATELY 4500 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL (AGL) FOR A PERSONAL SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT. AT 1330 PILOT AND PASSENGER NOTICED A WHITE VAN PARKED IN A CANYON. PILOT CIRCLED TO GET A BETTER LOOK. AT THIS POINT WHILE OVER THE INDIAN CREEK CANYON THE PILOT STATED THE CLUTCH WARNING LIGHT CAME ON STEADY. PILOT STARTED DESCENDING AND TOLD PASSENGER TO BE READY TO PULL THE CLUTCH CIRCUIT BREAKER UNDER HIS KNEE. PILOT BEGAN A SLOW STEADY 360 TURN WHILE LOOKING FOR THE BEST PLACE TO SET DOWN. THE CLUTCH WARNING LIGHT WAS STILL ON AFTER 10-12 SECONDS. PILOT INSTRUCTED PASSENGER TO PULL THE CLUTCH CIRCUIT BREAKER. SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE LOW RPM WARNING LIGHT AND HORN CAME ON. PILOT IMMEDIATELY LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE AND STARTED HEADING FOR THE NEAREST LANDING SPOT THAT DIDN'T HAVE LARGE TREES. HE FLARED AT 20 TO 30 FEET AND CUSHIONED THE LANDING WITH THE REMAINING COLLECTIVE AT 3 TO 5 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO PILOT AND PASSENGER. THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.

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 WPR13LA003Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRockport, WAThe pilot's failure to maintain sufficient rotor rpm during a precautionary landing, which resulted in a hard landing.Oct 3, 2012 · Substantial damage