# NTSB CHI04CA116: Robinson R22 Beta, N215WW, Genesee Depot, WI, May 8, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 8, 2004, 12:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Genesee Depot, WI - Coordinates: 42.965, -88.39167 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9650&lon=-88.3917&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - Milwaukee FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 59253 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI04CA116 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59253/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI04CA116 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain proper rotor RPM during the hover landing and his inadequate remedial action, which resulted in the hard landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - rotor rpm - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - remedial action - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The helicopter landed hard following a loss of rotor rpm during the landing attempt. The pilot stated that during the landing attempt, approximately 20 feet above ground level, the low rotor RPM horn sounded along with the corresponding warning light. The pilot reported the helicopter "settled rapidly" as he lowered the collective and increased the throttle. The pilot stated that the helicopter was too low for a successful recovery and impacted left skid first. The pilot reported "It may have been possible that I delayed throttle governor by initially holding throttle/collective control too tightly." The pilot also stated that the accident could have been prevented by "closer observation of [the] main rotor RPM." ## Factual narrative On May 8, 2004, at 1245 central daylight time, a Robinson R22 Beta, N215WW, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during a hard landing near Genesee Depot, Wisconsin. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and his pilot-rated passenger were not injured. The flight departed the pilot's private residence near Dousman, Wisconsin, approximately 1240. According to the pilot's written statement, after departure he assumed control of the helicopter from the pilot-rated passenger in order to practice a hover landing. The pilot reported he selected a sand/gravel pit approximately 1 1/2 miles from his residence to practice the landing. The pilot stated that during the landing attempt, approximately 20 feet above ground level, the low rotor RPM horn sounded along with the corresponding warning light. The pilot reported the helicopter "settled rapidly" as he lowered the collective and increased the throttle. The pilot stated that the helicopter was too low for a successful recovery and impacted left skid first. The pilot reported "It may have been possible that I delayed throttle governor by initially holding throttle/collective control too tightly." The pilot also stated that the accident could have been prevented by "closer observation of [the] main rotor RPM." ## Aircraft - Registration: N215WW (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Robinson R22 Beta - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 0930 - Airframe hours: 9276.2 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-B2C 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: W W Helicopters, LLC. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 22, 2004, 23 hours before - Departed: Dousman, WI - Destination: 57C, East Troy, WI ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review September 28, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 1,184 total, 140 in this make and model, 476 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: C52, 17 nm away 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.