# NTSB CEN13LA115: Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta, N27AT, Corcoran, MN, December 23, 2012

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 23, 2012, 10:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place: Corcoran, MN
- Coordinates: 45.148056, -93.538887
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.1481&lon=-93.5389&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Standing-engine(s) shutdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report November 13, 2014
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA - Minneapolis FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 85893
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13LA115
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85893/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85893
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA115

## Probable cause

The pilot’s improper decision to land the helicopter in a position that placed the tail rotor near tarps, which resulted in the tarps being lifted into the tail rotor, subsequent tail rotor damage, a loss of tail rotor authority, and an uncommanded tail rotor rotation.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: debris/dirt/foreign object](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 101 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055/cases.md)
- [Tail rotor](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046400): Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor · Damaged/degraded (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046400/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046400/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Standing-engine(s) shutdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Analysis

Before landing, the pilot hovered the helicopter about 10 feet above the ground to see if tarps covering the north half of the concrete helipad would move, and he then decided to continue the landing. The helicopter approached from the north, which placed the tail rotor over the tarps. The area south of the helipad was free of obstructions. While the pilot was shutting down the helicopter after landing, the helicopter made an uncommanded counterclockwise rotation of about 40 degrees. The pilot applied corrective pedal input with no response. The helicopter then rotated about three full revolutions before the tail boom and main rotors struck a nearby parked trailer, and a fire ensued. Postaccident examination of the helicopter did not reveal any preimpact anomalies; however, the examination was limited due to extensive impact and postimpact fire damage. Examination of the accident site revealed several cuts in the tarp in the area where the tail boom was positioned during landing. Although the pilot reported that the tarp did not impact the tail rotor, the evidence suggests that the tarp was lifted into the tail rotor during the shutdown, which likely caused damage to the tail rotor blades and resulted in a loss of tail rotor authority and the subsequent uncommanded rotation. Further, because the area south of the pad was free of obstructions and the reported wind was variable at 2 knots, the pilot could have landed the helicopter facing north, which would have placed the tail rotor over the unobstructed ground south of the helipad.

## Factual narrative

On December 23, 2012, about 1030 central standard time, a Robinson R22 Beta helicopter, N27AT, sustained substantial damage when the tail and main rotor struck a parked trailer after landing at a private residence near Corcoran, Minnesota. The helicopter subsequently caught fire and burned. The private pilot received minor injuries. The helicopter sustained damage to the structure supporting the main rotor gearbox and tail boom, the main rotors, the main rotor gearbox and the cabin. The aircraft was registered to the pilot and another individual and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operated on a flight plan. The flight originated from a private heliport near St. Michael, Minnesota about 1025. The pilot reported that the landing was executed to a large concrete pad that had been poured on his son's property for a building to be erected. He said that there were tarps covering the north half of the pad and he saw boards and stones holding the tarps in position. There was a trailer parked on the west side of the pad. He elected to land on the southeast part of the pad and approached from the north. The pilot stated that during his landing approach, he stopped and hovered about 10 feet above the ground to make sure the tarps would not move due to the helicopter's downwash. He said that he proceeded to make a normal landing and as he was preparing to shut down, the helicopter rotated about 30 to 40 degrees counterclockwise. The pilot applied corrective pedal input with no response. The helicopter then rotated about three full revolutions before the tail boom and main rotors struck a trailer that was parked near the west end of the concrete pad. Subsequently, the main rotor gearbox separated and came to rest in the passenger seat. The fuel tanks ruptured and a fire erupted. The pilot was able to extricate himself from the burning helicopter and remove his clothing that was on fire. He suffered burns to his face and head and experienced soreness for several days following the accident. Examination of the accident scene revealed several cuts in the tarps that were covering the north half of the concrete landing pad. The area where the cuts were found corresponded with the area where the tail rotor of the helicopter would have been positioned for the described landing. The area to the south of the pad was clear of obstructions. Examination of the helicopter and control systems was conducted and no preimpact anomalies were noted, however, the examination was limited due to the extensive damage from the impact and the postimpact fire. The pilot reported the wind as variable at 2 knots. During a telephone conversation with the pilot, he stated that he did not believe that the tarp could have struck the tail rotor. He mentioned that he did see 2 small rips in the tarp in the area where the tail rotor would havebeen, but he also mentioned that the tarps had many small rips throughout.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N27AT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N27AT-2018-05-30), registration cancelled 2018-05-30, S/N 1151, built 1989 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22 BETA
- Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (registry code 7640110) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1151
- Airframe hours: 1125
- Engines: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 6, 2012
- Departed: PVT, St. Michael, MN
- Destination: Corcoran, MN

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 68; injuries: minor; private; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 700 total, 650 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 2 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 25 °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 20121223028019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121223028019A), Dec 23, 2012: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, Corcoran, MN, Destroyed. On December 23, 2012, [privacy data omitted] landed at a residential area. Aircraft spun and struck a trailer. Fuel tanks ruptured and fire consumed aircraft.

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 3, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85893. 4.1 MB in all.

- Pilot-Operator Aircraft Accident Report NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40417322&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot-Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-Redacted.PDF
- ACCIDENT REPORT from pilot (item 2, .PDF, 902 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40417323&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=ACCIDENT%20REPORT%20from%20pilot-Redacted.PDF
- Record of conversation with pilot (item 3, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40417324&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20conversation%20with%20pilot-Redacted.PDF
- Record of Conversation with FAA (item 4, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40417325&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20with%20FAA-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.

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