# NTSB CEN22LA167: Robinson Helicopter R22, N999FR, Hawley, TX, April 5, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: April 5, 2022, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place: Hawley, TX
- Coordinates: 32.609936, -99.785728 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.6099&lon=-99.7857&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Standing-engine(s) operating: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 104888
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA167
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104888/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104888
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA167

## Probable cause

The pilot’s poor decision to exit the helicopter with the engine and main rotor still operating.

## Findings

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

- [Action: unnecessary action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041045): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041045/cases.md?model=7640102), [All aircraft, 52 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041045/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) operating: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7640102), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he landed and exited the helicopter and stood just outside of the door. The helicopter “picked up, spun around,” and knocked the pilot onto the ground. The helicopter came to rest on its left side resulting in substantial damage. The helicopter manufacturer had issued a safety notice SN-17 in 1984. The notice stated in part that the pilot should never exit the helicopter with the engine running and rotors turning as “the collective can creep up, increasing both pitch and throttle, allowing the helicopter to lift off or roll out of control.” The pilot stated that there were no mechanical anomalies with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operations.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N999FR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N999FR-2022-07-15), registration cancelled 2022-07-15, S/N 4792, built 2018 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R22
- Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R22](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22) (registry code 7640102) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-J2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-j2a) (registry code 42314, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 4792
- Year built: 2018
- Airframe hours: 2084
- Engines: Lycoming O-360j2a 124 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Wheatly Andy
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, January 31, 2022
- Departed: Hawley, TX
- Airport: None
- Equipment: Handheld GPS, Satellite tracking device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 19, 2021; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 14,285 total, 12,177 in this make and model, 14,131 as pilot in command, 208 in the last 90 days, 70 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 19 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 29.62 inHg
- Observed at: KDYS, 11 nm away
- METAR: KDYS 051556Z AUTO 23019G22KT 10SM CLR 25/06 A2962 RMK AO2 SLP998 T02470055

## 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 20220405004899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220405004899A), Apr 5, 2022: Robinson Helicopter Company R22, Dundee, TX, Substantial damage. On April 5, 2022, at approximately 1030 CDT, a Robinson R22 bearing the registration number N999FR,[privacy data omitted] collided with terrain after the…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 6, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104888. 6.1 MB in all.

- NTSB form 6120 pilot operator report CEN22LA167 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14545468&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120%20Pilot%20Operator%20Report%20CEN22LA167_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo array CEN22LA167 (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14545792&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20CEN22LA167-Rel.pdf
- Robinson safety notice sn 17 CEN22LA167 (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 596 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14544912&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Robinson%20Safety%20Notice%20SN%2017%20CEN22LA167-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.

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