# NTSB CHI02LA021: Robinson R22 Beta, N888BD, Lambertville, MI, November 5, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 5, 2001, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Lambertville, MI - Coordinates: 41.739757, -83.620193 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7398&lon=-83.6202&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 4, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 53729 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI02LA021 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53729/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA021 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper flare during landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot said he was giving helicopter rides to friends. "On my third trip I taxied to a grass tie down area where I had landed on my previous flights. I was hovering at 3 feet. The helicopter started [a] translating tendency to the right. I tried to correct but it turned 180 degrees and the tail rotor struck the ground and then the right skid dug in. The chopper then went into dynamic rollover on its righ[t] side." A witness reported seeing the helicopter come in for a landing. The witness said the helicopter over-flared and the tail and tail rotor struck the terrain. The helicopter then impacted onto its skids. The right skid separated from the fuselage and the helicopter rolled over onto its right side. An examination of the helicopter revealed no anomalies. ## Factual narrative On November 5, 2001, at 1530 eastern standard time, a Robinson R22 BETA, N888BD, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when it impacted the ground while landing at the Toledo Suburban Airport (5G9), Lambertville, Michigan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The private pilot and pilot-rated passenger reported no injuries. The local flight originated at Lambertville, Michigan, at an undetermined time. In his written statement, the pilot said he was giving rides to friends. "On my third trip I taxied to a grass tie down area where I had landed on my previous flights. I was hovering at 3 feet. The helicopter started [a] translating tendency to the right. I tried to correct but it turned 180 degrees and the tail rotor struck the ground and then the right skid dug in. The chopper then went into dynamic rollover on its righ[t] side." A witness reported seeing the helicopter come in for a landing. The witness said the helicopter over-flared and the tail and tail rotor struck the terrain. The helicopter then impacted onto its skids. The right skid separated from the fuselage and the helicopter rolled over onto its right side. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the helicopter at the scene. The helicopter's main rotor blades were broken. The tail rotor was separated and the boom was broken upward. The transmission mounts were bent. The cross tubes for the skids were bent and bowed. Control continuity was confirmed. An examination of the engine and other helicopter systems revealed no anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N888BD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N888BD-2004-03-15), registration cancelled 2004-03-15, S/N 1097, built 1989 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Robinson 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: 1097 - Airframe hours: 6767 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Edward G. Binkelman - Registered owner: William E. Bolin - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 24, 2001, 777.4 hours before - Departed: 5G9, Lambertville, MI - Airport: 5G9, Toledo Suburban Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 1,100 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.30 inHg - Observed at: 5G9, 1 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 20011105030679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011105030679A), Nov 5, 2001: Robsin R22BETA, Lambertville, MI, No damage. (-23) While at a hover the pilot over controlled the helicopter. The tail rotor hit the ground. The helicopter came down on the skids very hard. The right skid… 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.