# NTSB ANC02LA017: Robinson R-22, N8353M, Fairbanks, AK, February 23, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 23, 2002, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Fairbanks, AK - Coordinates: 64.646942, -147.727218 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.6469&lon=-147.7272&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 4, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Fairbanks FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 54272 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC02LA017 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54272/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54272 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC02LA017 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from objects while maneuvering. A factor associated with the accident is an undetermined object. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, maneuvering - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - object - undetermined (contributing factor) ## Analysis During an animal herding practice, the pilot descended over trees and brush into a clearing. During the descent, he "felt a thump" at the rear of the helicopter. He landed the helicopter, and found that both tail rotor blades were damaged. He said his descent was well clear of the trees and brush. He said he believed a bird strike was responsible for the damage, but in his written statement he says, "... it is still unclear to me what contacted the tail rotor." ## Factual narrative On February 23, 2002, about 1300 Alaska standard time, a Robinson R-22 helicopter, N8353M, sustained substantial damage during a maneuvering descent about 15 miles southeast of Fairbanks, Alaska. The helicopter was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The helicopter was operated by Quicksilver Air, Inc. of Fairbanks. The certificated airline transport pilot and the sole passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a visual flight rules (VFR) company flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Chena Marina Airport, Fairbanks, about 1230. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on February 27, the director of operations for the operator said that during a low-level animal herding operation, the helicopter descended over trees into an open area. During the descent the pilot "felt a thump." The pilot made a precautionary landing and examined the helicopter. During the examination, the pilot found the tail rotor blades were damaged. The director of operations said prior to the flight, there were no known mechanical problems with the helicopter. In a written statement provided to the IIC by the pilot, the pilot said he did not know what struck the tail rotor. He said due to his close proximity to trees and brush he believed the damage was caused by a bird strike. He said he was well clear of the trees and brush when he "felt the thump." The pilot has filed a "Bird/Other Wildlife Strike Report" with the FAA. There was no clear evidence of a bird strike presented, or found during the investigation, and the pilot in his written statement says, "...it is still unclear to me what contacted the tail rotor." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8353M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8353M), registered now, S/N 2666M (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Robinson R-22 - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R22 MARINER](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-mariner) (registry code 7640115) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-360-A1D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-360-a1d) (registry code 41504, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2666M - Airframe hours: 2036 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-J2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Quicksilver Air, Inc., doing business as Quicksilver Air, Inc. - Registered owner: Richard Swisher - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 20, 2001, 16 hours before - Departed: AK28, Chena Marina, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 7,000 total, 4,500 in this make and model, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 23 °F ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20020223002219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020223002219A), Feb 23, 2002: Robsin R22MARINER, Fairbanks, AK, No damage. (-23) Accident #ANC02LA017 ptrs #2002B 1306 on Saturday, feb. 23, a FAR part 91 helicopter flight was to practice animal capture work in the flats se of fai.… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 15, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54272. 307 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 277 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40389577&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 30 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40389578&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Redacted.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.