# NTSB CEN22LA404: Robinson Helicopter R44, N7048C, Beardsley, MN, August 30, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 30, 2022, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Beardsley, MN - Coordinates: 45.5583, -96.7123 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.5583&lon=-96.7123&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 4 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, Fargo FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 105846 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA404 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105846/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105846 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA404 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control during the approach to land that resulted in an excessive descent rate and impact with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md) - [Action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000/cases.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 111 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the air tour flight reported that he was performing a pedal turn to put the nose of the helicopter into the wind for landing when he overshot the turn with the tail. The pilot tried to correct by performing another rotation, but the low rotor rpm light illuminated, and the low rpm horn sounded. The pilot attempted to lower the collective to regain forward airspeed, but the helicopter landed hard on the skids, bounced, and rolled over onto its left side. A witness reported that the helicopter approached from the north and entered a spiral descent before “it went down” from an altitude of about 80-100 ft. above ground level. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, main rotor blades, and tail rotor blades. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal helicopter operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7048C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7048C), registered now, S/N 0531, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44 - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R44](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44) (registry code 7640120) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 0531 - Year built: 1998 - Airframe hours: 3474.7 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-F1B5 250 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: MN Helicopters Inc - Registered owner: MN Helicopters Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 15, 2022 - Destination: Same as departure - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: minor; commercial; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 22, 2022; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; toxicology performed; flight hours: 792 total, 504 in this make and model, 648 as pilot in command, 105 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 349° at 8 knots, gusting 14 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: AQP, 37 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20220830015629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220830015629A), Aug 30, 2022: Robinson Helicopter R44, Beardsley, MN, Destroyed. The pilot was conducting air tour operations originating from a farmstead rural Beardsley, MN. During the accident flight, the aircraft approached the landing… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 26, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105846. 2.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14971750&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Master_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum of record (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 127 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14972985&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memo%20of%20Record-Rel.pdf - Photo log (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 610 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14973528&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo-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.