# NTSB CEN22LA147: Sikorsky S-76D, N761AF, Texarkana, AR, March 13, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 12, 2022, 18:45 local (Mar 13, 2022, 00:45 UTC) - Place: Texarkana, AR · 64XS Heliport - Coordinates: 33.428844, -94.047933 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4288&lon=-94.0479&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Little Rock FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 104810 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA147 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104810/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104810 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA147 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance during landing on a rooftop helipad. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Experience/qualifications: total experience](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot; cases with it: [Sikorsky S-76D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015/cases.md?model=8143021), [All aircraft, 126 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Sikorsky S-76D, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=8143021), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was on approach to a hospital rooftop helipad that he had never landed at before. About 30 ft above ground level, he felt a “thump” in the pedals; the helicopter vibrated, pitched forward, rolled left, then yawed right. The pilot landed the helicopter on the helipad. After the accident the pilot discovered that the tail rotor had contacted the building. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail rotor, tail rotor drivetrain, and tail pylon. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N761AF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N761AF), registered now, S/N 761039, built 2013 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT CORP S-76D - Registry model: [Sikorsky S-76D](https://openairdocs.org/model/sikorsky-s-76d) (registry code 8143021) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PW210S](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pw210s) (registry code 52294, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 761039 - Year built: 2013 - Airframe hours: 4747.7 - Engines: Pratt and Whitney PW210S 1123 horsepower turbo shaft; Pratt and Whitney Canada PW210S 1123 lbs thrust turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Arkansas Children's Hospital - Registered owner: Arkansas Children's Hospital - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, February 20, 2022 - Departed: AR62, Little Rock, AR - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: 64XS, Heliport Texarkana Wadley Regional Medical Center - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 30, 2021; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 3,211 total, 173 in this make and model, 1,879 as pilot in command, 128 in the last 90 days, 32 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 0 ft - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 14 °F - Altimeter: 30.34 inHg - Observed at: KTXK, 3.2 nm away - METAR: KLIT 122353Z 05003KT 10SM FEW250 06/M10 A3037 RMK AO2 SLP287 T00561100 10072 20017 56016 ## 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 20220312001719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220312001719A), Mar 12, 2022: Sikorsky Aircraft Corp S-76D, Texarkana, TX, Substantial damage. Approximately 1830 on March 12, 2022. N761AF was in flight from AR62 Arkansas children?s hospital heliport, descending for a landing at Texarkana Wadley… ## Other investigations on N761AF (1) 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. - [NTSB CEN19LA146](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA146), May 15, 2019: Sikorsky S76 (N761AF), Morrilton, AR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The improper securing of the exhaust duct bolts, which resulted in the duct becoming unseated and substantial heat damage to the tail rotor drive shaft. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 19, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104810. 3.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13641207&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=(1)%20N761AF%20-%20NTSB%20Form%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 884 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13640618&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=(3)%20Robinson%20Statement%202022-04-07_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 281 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13660397&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=(2)%20Docket%20pics-Rel.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.