# NTSB DEN04LA030: Robinson R22, N341MK, Broomfield, CO, December 17, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 17, 2003, 05:53 local (12:53 UTC) - Place: Broomfield, CO - Coordinates: 39.90139, -105.116668 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9014&lon=-105.1167&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report March 30, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 58501 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN04LA030 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58501/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN04LA030 ## Probable cause the flight instructor's failure to maintain aircraft control. Contributing to the accident was the wind gust. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, taxi - aerial - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - runway ## Analysis The helicopter departed into the wind with the student at the controls. During the aerial taxi, the helicopter encountered turbulence. The flight instructor took control, and at approximately 500 feet to 600 feet above the ground, he initiated a turn to the south. A gust of wind weathervaned the helicopter around onto an easterly heading. While turning back towards the south, the helicopter settled to the ground, hitting the tail first, rolling over, and coming to rest on the left side, destroying the helicopter. According to the METAR (aviation routine weather report), the winds were from 260 degrees at 30 knots. ## Factual narrative On December 17, 2003, at 0553 mountain standard time, a Robinson R22, N341MK, was destroyed when it impacted terrain during takeoff from Jefferson County Airport (BJC), Broomfield, Colorado. The commercial certificated flight instructor and the private certificated pilot receiving instruction received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A visual flight rules flight plan had been filed for the cross-country training flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight had departed at approximately 0545 and was en route to Scottsdale (SDL), Arizona. According to the accident report submitted by the flight instructor, he and his student arrived at the airport at approximately 0530 and began a preflight inspection. The flight instructor stated that he called the Denver Flight Service Station (FSS) for a full weather briefing for a flight from BJC to SDL with several stops along the way. Reported winds were "out of the west at 10 knots," however, FSS "did not have specific winds for BJC." According to the flight instructor, the helicopter departed from the east hangars, near the A3 intersection. They departed into the wind with the student at the controls. During the aerial taxi, the helicopter encountered turbulence. The flight instructor took control, and at approximately 500 to 600 feet above the ground, he initiated a turn to the south. A gust of wind "weathervaned" the helicopter around onto an easterly heading. While turning back towards the south, the helicopter settled to the ground, hitting the tail first, rolling over, and coming to rest on the left side. The windscreen was shattered, the cockpit instrument panel was crushed, the rotor blades were buckled down, and the tail was bent forward. An examination of the helicopters systems revealed no anomalies. According to the BJC METAR (aviation routine weather report) at 0555, the winds were from 260 degrees at 30 knots. According to the R22 pilot operating handbook, "Flight when surface winds exceed 25 knots, including gusts, is prohibited." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N341MK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N341MK), registered now, S/N 3470, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Robinson R22 - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R22](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22) (registry code 7640102) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (registry code 41575, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 7640102 - Airframe hours: 290 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-J2A 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, November 19, 2003, 40 hours before - Departed: BJC, Broomfield, CO - Destination: SDL, SCOTTSDALE, AZ - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: BJC, Jefferson County Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 26; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review October 24, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 300 total, 204 in this make and model, 275 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 70 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 24; injuries: minor; private; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: rear; flight hours: 95 total, 41 in this make and model, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 260° at 30 knots - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 9 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: BJC ## 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 20031217037759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031217037759A), Dec 17, 2003: Robsin R22, Denver, CO, Destroyed. (-23) Instructor and student pilot were taking off from Jeffco Airport in broomfield Colorado in a Robinson R22 helicopter enroute to scottsdale, AZ. On… 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.