# NTSB ANC02LA078: Robinson R-22, N7183Z, Nome, AK, July 16, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 16, 2002, 13:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Nome, AK - Coordinates: 64.796112, -165.01416 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.7961&lon=-165.0142&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 29, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA Fairbanks FSDO-01 - NTSB case key (mKey): 55234 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC02LA078 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55234/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55234 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC02LA078 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude and clearance in hilly terrain. A factor contributing to the accident was the performance of a low altitude flight maneuver. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - terrain condition - rising - low altitude flight/maneuver - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the helicopter was being used in hilly terrain to herd reindeer. While maneuvering at 20-30 feet above ground level, the pilot turned downwind, and the helicopter started to settle toward the ground. The pilot applied full up collective, and full aft cyclic controls, but was unable to arrest the descent. The helicopter impacted laterally on the side of a hill. During the impact, the main rotor blades severed the tail boom, and the helicopter rolled downhill onto its side. ## Factual narrative On July 16, 2002, about 1300 Alaska daylight time, a Robinson R-22 helicopter, N7183Z, sustained substantial damage during a collision with terrain while maneuvering about 23 miles north of Nome, Alaska. The helicopter was being operated by Bering Air Inc. of Nome, as a visual flight rules (VFR) flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The solo airline transport pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and company flight following procedures were in effect. The flight originated at the Nome airport about 0900, and was conducting reindeer herding operations. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on July 16, the pilot said he was at a low altitude herding reindeer, and turned downwind. He said as he turned downwind the helicopter started to descend, and he attempted to stop the descent by adding power. He said the helicopter inadvertently landed hard, and during the hard landing the main rotor chopped off the tail boom. The helicopter then rocked forward and rolled downhill onto its left side. The pilot said there were no known mechanical anomalies with the helicopter prior to the accident. In a written report to the NTSB, the pilot reported that he was repositioning on the herd by maneuvering at 20-30 feet above ground level. He said he started a pedal turn to keep the tail of the helicopter away from ascending terrain, and the helicopter turned downwind. With the tailwind the helicopter started to settle toward the ground. He said he eventually applied full up collective, and full aft cyclic controls, but the helicopter continued to descend, and had a hard landing. ## Aircraft - Registration: N7183Z (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Robinson R-22 - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 3016 - Airframe hours: 552.7 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-J2A 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Operator: Bering Air Inc - Registered owner: James D. Rowe - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 25, 2002, 43 hours before - Departed: PAOM, Nome, AK - Destination: Nome, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review May 28, 2002; seat: right; flight hours: 8,700 total, 125 in this make and model, 8,650 as pilot in command, 180 in the last 90 days, 90 in the last 30 days, 10 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft broken - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: PAOM ## 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 20020716016579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020716016579A), Jul 16, 2002: Robsin R22, Nome, AK, No damage. (.19) On July 16, 2002, about 1300 Alaska daylight time, a Robinson R-22 helicopter, N7183Z, sustained substantial damage while maneuvering about 23 miles… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 6, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55234. 761 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 761 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40463068&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.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.