20150712009689A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA · Panguitch, UT · July 12, 2015

Date: July 12, 2015 · 13:40 local
Place: Panguitch, UT
Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N441MM
NTSB investigation: NTSBGAA15LA131
Reported as: Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta
Reported engine: Lycoming I0360 series
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 2
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,000 total300 in this make and model15 in the last 90 days

N441MMRegistration cancelled Jun 2, 2020 · Robinson Helicopter R22 BETAS/N 3057 · Built 2000 Airframe modelRobinson Helicopter R22 BETA Engine modelLycoming I0360 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.

Pilot was attempting to land in a canyon when he realiized that he had a tail wind and that the landing should be aborted. He turned 180 degrees to get into the wind and gain performance but the low rotor RPM horn sounded. He lowered the collective to maintain RPM but the aircraft couldn't sustain altitude and impacted the ground. According to performance charts the aircraft was being operated 1,600 feet above it's hover ceiling for that weight.

As the FAA filed it

PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND IN A CANYON WHEN HE REALIIZED THAT HE HAD A TAIL WIND AND THAT THE LANDING SHOULD BE ABORTED. HE TURNED 180 DEGREES TO GET INTO THE WIND AND GAIN PERFORMANCE BUT THE LOW ROTOR RPM HORN SOUNDED. HE LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE TO MAINTAIN RPM BUT THE AIRCRAFT COULDN'T SUSTAIN ALTITUDE AND IMPACTED THE GROUND. ACCORDING TO PERFORMANCE CHARTS THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING OPERATED 1,600 FEET ABOVE IT'S HOVER CEILING FOR THAT WEIGHT.

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 GAA15LA131Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportEscalante, UTThe pilot’s inadequate preflight planning and his subsequent decision to attempt to climb over rising terrain with the helicopter over maximum gross weight while operating in high-density altitude conditions with a tailwind, which resulted in its inability to…Jul 12, 2015 · Substantial damage