- Date
- September 19, 1993, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place
- Scottdale, PA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Uncontrolled descent
- Aircraft
- N88RDRobinson R22
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 25, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19930919034959A
- Case key
- 8822
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing and his delay in performing remedial action.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot elected to land the helicopter near a rock quarry. After a 'normal' approach into the wind, the pilot noticed that the chosen landing site 'appeared uneven.' He decided to discontinue the approach. He did not have adequate clearance above the ground, or enough power available to initiate an immediate climb, and the helicopter continued to descend. The left skid impacted terrain and the helicopter rolled over onto its left side. No pre-impact mechanical deficiencies were reported.
Factual narrative
On September 19, 1993, about 1430 hours eastern daylight time, N88RD, a Robinson R-22 helicopter, operated by the pilot/owner, impacted terrain and was substantially damaged during an attempted go-around in Scottdale, Pennsylvania. The certificated private pilot and pilot-rated passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The personal flight originated from Latrobe, Pennsylvania, about 1400 hours and was conducted under 14 CFR 91.
According to the private pilot, he invited a certificated helicopter flight instructor friend for a "sight-seeing ride." It was agreed that the private pilot would be the pilot-in- command. About 20 minutes into the flight, the private pilot decided to land near a rock quarry to observe an excavation site. After a "normal" approach into the wind, the pilot observed that the terrain "appeared uneven". He decided to discontinue the approach, "but found power was not available to climb." The helicopter descended onto the uneven terrain, touched down on the left skid, and rolled over onto its left side.
According to a FAA aviation safety inspector, the helicopter's fuselage, main rotor system, and tail rotor system received substantial damage. No pre-impact mechanical deficiencies were reported.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N88RD
- Reported as
- Robinson R22
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 2214
- Airframe hours
- 199
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-B2C, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Robert B. Davis
- Registered owner
- Davis Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 13, 1993 · 99 hours before
- Departed
- LBE · Latrobe, PA
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 43
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 535 total · 146 in this make and model · 361 as pilot in command · 4 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 10,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Observed at
- LBE, 15 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.