- Date
- September 4, 2005, 09:59 local (14:59 UTC)
- Place
- Rockton, IL
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N61LARobinson R22 Beta
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 20, 2005
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA-DuPage FSDO
- FAA report
- 20050904024519A
- Case key
- 62507
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's excessive descent rate on approach for landing and the settling with power condition subsequently encountered. Contributing factors were the pilot's failure to reduce the descent rate prior to entering the settling with power condition and his failure to execute a go-around.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The helicopter was substantially damaged during a hard landing. The pilot reported that the approach for landing was "steep." He stated that as the aircraft "neared the ground [he] pulled all available power to no avail. It quickly turned to a 'settling with power' situation." Upon contact with the ground the helicopter pivoted about the left skid and came to rest on its side. The pilot stated that there were no failures or malfunctions with the helicopter prior to the accident.
Factual narrative
On September 4, 2005, at 0959 central daylight time, a Robinson R22 Beta helicopter, N61LA, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged during a hard landing near Rockton, Illinois. The personal flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot reported minor injuries. The passenger was reportedly uninjured. The local flight departed Southern Wisconsin Regional Airport (JVL), Janesville, Wisconsin, at 0900.
In his statement, the pilot noted that the flight was intended to build flight time in preparation for a commercial pilot practical test. During the flight he decided to land in a field to investigate some "four wheeling" activity. He noted that he was giving a ride to an individual he met there when the accident occurred. The pilot added that the helicopter ride consisted of circling the field and returning for a landing. He commented that he was operating near the gross weight of the helicopter, with one passenger and 20 gallons of fuel on-board.
The pilot stated: "My approach, I believe, would have been categorized as steep and as I neared the ground I pulled all available power to no avail. It quickly turned to a 'settling with power' situation and I managed to land on the skids. The contact was still severe enough for us to 'bounce' up pivoting on my left skid experiencing a dynamic rollover." He added that the field in which the accident occurred was "flat" and that the terrain was a "non-factor" in the accident.
The pilot stated that there were no failures or malfunctions with the helicopter prior to the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N61LA
- Reported as
- Robinson R22 Beta
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 1690
- Airframe hours
- 3,784.1
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 124 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Wings USA
- Registered owner
- Lloyd Aviation Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · June 1, 2005 · 78.8 hours before
- Departed
- JVL · Janesville, WI
- Airport
- JVL · Rock County
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 36
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- October 1, 2004
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 175 total · 164 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 160° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.26 inHg
- Observed at
- RFD, 17 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.