# Accident 20121003022809A: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, Rockport, WA, October 3, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 3, 2012, 13:30 local time
- Place: Rockport, WA
- Airport: Skagit Regional
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 48.9186° N, 121.3528° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.9186&lon=-121.3528&mi=10
- Aircraft: N80140, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N80140) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA (registry code 7640110, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22 BETA
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 646 total, 198 in this make and model, 8 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR13LA003](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13LA003) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121003022809A

## Narrative

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

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.

## 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 WPR13LA003](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13LA003), Oct 3, 2012: Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta (N80140), Rockport, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain sufficient rotor rpm during a precautionary landing, which resulted in a hard landing.

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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