# NTSB CHI91LA199: Robinson R-22, N8024W, Faribault, MN, June 21, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 21, 1991, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Faribault, MN
- Coordinates: 44.289901, -93.269813 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.2899&lon=-93.2698&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 4, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15105
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI91LA199
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15105/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI91LA199

## Probable cause

COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS WAS NOT ATTAINED BY THE PILOT RESULTING IN LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.  A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS A GUSTY CROSSWIND LANDING ENVIRONMENT.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, taxi - aerial
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PILOT SAID THAT HE WAS EXECUTING A 360 DEGREE TURN WHILE HOVER/TAXIING.  THE AIRCRAFT ABRUPTLY WHIPPED AROUND ITS AXIS OF ROTATION, IN THE GUSTY CROSSWIND ENVIRONMENT.  THE HELICOPTER BEGAN UNCONTROLLED OSCILLATIONS AND STRUCK THE GROUND WITH A REARWARD MOMENTUM.  THE TAIL CONE HIT THE GROUND AND COLLAPSED, CAUSING THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES TO HIT THE GROUND REPEATEDLY BEFORE COMING TO A STOP.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8024W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8024W-1991-11-05), registration cancelled 1991-11-05, S/N 1047 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON R-22
- Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (registry code 7640110) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1047
- Airframe hours: 862
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-B2C 131 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Km Helicopter Sevice
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Unknown, June 5, 1991, 81 hours before
- Airport: FBL, Faribault, runway 2, 2,018 × 130 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 3,218 total, 10 in this make and model, 2,077 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 70° at 14 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Observed at: FBL, 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 19910621023429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910621023429A), Jun 21, 1991: Robsin R22ALPHA, Faribault, MN, Substantial damage. Lost control during aerial taxi and hovering practice in gusty surface wind. Oscillated tail and rotors hit ground.

## Other investigations on N8024W (1)

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.

- [NTSB NYC90LA015](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC90LA015), Oct 19, 1989: Robinson R22 (N8024W), Bethpage, NY, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S IMPROPER HANDLING OF THE HELICOPTER DURING A POWER OFF AUTOROTATION RESULTING IN A HARD LANDING AND A MAIN ROTOR BLADE SEVERING THE TAILBOOM. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE A GUSTY…

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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