# NTSB ANC99LA040: Robinson R-22, N8367F, Fairbanks, AK, April 1, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 1, 1999, 10:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Fairbanks, AK - Location: 64.8378° N, 147.7164° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Fairbanks, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.8378&lon=-147.7164&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 20, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 46045 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC99LA040 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46045/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA040 ## Probable cause The failure of the pilot to maintain rotor rpm during a downwind turn. A factor in the accident was the inadequate altitude to recover from the loss of rotor rpm. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - weather condition - tailwind - rotor rpm - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Forced landing, emergency landing - Roll over, emergency landing - tail rotor effectiveness - not available ## Analysis The helicopter pilot turned downwind at 30 feet above the ground. The winds were between 15 knots and 30 knots. The main rotor rpm decayed, and the pilot was unable to regain rpm by lowering the collective, disengaging the engine speed governor, and increasing the throttle. During the ensuing forced landing, the helicopter bounced and rolled onto its side. The pilot stated that he did not have tail rotor authority at the low rotor rpm when the helicopter bounced. The engine was operated on a test stand, and exceeded the minimum power requirements for a serviceable engine. No anomalies were noted with the engine, governor, or governor controller. ## Factual narrative On April 1, 1999, about 1030 Alaska standard time, a Robinson R-22 helicopter, N8367F, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing about 38 miles south of Fairbanks, Alaska. The commercial pilot and sole passenger were not injured. The helicopter was operated by Chena River Aviation under 14 CFR Part 135, conducting wolf captures for the State of Alaska, Department of Fish and Game. The flight departed the Chena Marina Airport in Fairbanks at 0930. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and a company VFR flight plan was filed. The pilot told the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC) during a telephone interview on April 1, that he turned downwind in 15 knots to 30 knots of wind, at 30 feet above the ground to capture a wolf. He noticed the rotor and engine rpm decaying. He attempted to lower the collective, disengage the engine speed governor, and increase the throttle, but the rotor speed continued to decay. The pilot said the low rotor speed warning horn activated during his descent, and he made a forced landing to a clearing. The helicopter bounced, and rolled onto its side. He stated that he did not have tail rotor authority at the low rotor rpm when the helicopter bounced. The pilot estimated seven to ten gallons of fuel remained in the fuel tanks at the time of the accident. The engine was examined and operated on a test stand at the Robinson Helicopter facility on May 3, 1999. The testing was observed by an NTSB investigator. No anomalies were noted with the governor motor, the governor controller, or the engine. The power level produced throughout the test exceeded the minimum specified by the manufacturer. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8367F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8367F-2002-11-20), registration cancelled 2002-11-20, S/N 2816, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Robinson R-22 - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (registry code 7640110) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2816 - Airframe hours: 654 - Engines: Lycoming HO-360-J2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Chena River Aviation - Registered owner: Troy L. Cambier - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 24, 1999, 21 hours before - Departed: AK28, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 2,900 total, 1,550 in this make and model, 2,500 as pilot in command, 175 in the last 90 days, 56 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 15 knots, gusting 30 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken - Temperature: 19 °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 19990401002879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990401002879A), Apr 1, 1999: Robsin R22BETA, Fairbanks, AK, Substantial damage. Chena river aviation air taxi (1998 Robinson R-22 helicopter) crashed while en route, the pilot and passenger on board were not injured, the acft has… 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.