# NTSB ERA10CA039: Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta, N822U, Scranton, SC, October 24, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 24, 2009, 16:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Scranton, SC - Coordinates: 33.903888, -79.683891 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9039&lon=-79.6839&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 3, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74979 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10CA039 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74979/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74979 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA039 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the helicopter. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 3,969 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 96 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 9,308 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 4,590 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Taxi: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 83 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 10,154 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Taxi: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 36 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 163 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md) ## Analysis The helicopter pilot stated that he had just completed the first leg of a three-stop cross country flight. After landing, and hover-taxied toward the runway and performed a left pedal turn to observe the windsock. The pilot lost control of the helicopter, the tail rotor struck an embankment parallel to the runway, "which resulted in a 180-degree spin to the left and dynamic rollover." The helicopter came to rest on its left side, and incurred substantial damage to the fuselage, tail boom, and rotor blades. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions with the helicopter prior to the accident. He further stated that the accident could have been avoided by performance of the clearing turn farther from the embankment. ## Factual narrative The helicopter pilot stated that he had just completed the first leg of a three-stop cross country flight. After landing, he hover-taxied toward the runway and performed a left pedal turn to observe the windsock. The pilot lost control of the helicopter, the tail rotor struck an embankment parallel to the runway, "which resulted in a 180-degree spin to the left and dynamic rollover." The helicopter came to rest on its left side, and incurred substantial damage to the fuselage, tail boom, and rotor blades. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions with the helicopter prior to the accident. He further stated that the accident could have been avoided by performance of the clearing turn farther from the embankment. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N822U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N822U-2011-11-02), registration cancelled 2011-11-02, S/N 0917, built 1988 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER 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: 0917 - Airframe hours: 3397 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 130 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: V T Whitlock Inc - Registered owner: V T Whitlock Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 20, 2009, 2 hours before - Departed: 51J, Lake South, SC - Destination: SC60, Scranton, SC - Airport: SC60, Cockfield Aerodrome, runway 04, 2,800 × 66 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; injuries: none; private; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 17, 2009; seat: right; flight hours: 267 total, 267 in this make and model, 218 as pilot in command, 75 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 29.75 inHg - Observed at: CKI, 14 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 20091024050649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20091024050649A), Oct 24, 2009: Robinson R-22, Scranton, SC, Substantial damage. On October 24, 2009, the 266 hour private pilot of a Robinson, R-22, N822U, was at his first stop on a 3 leg cross country flight. The pilot landed at a… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 9, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74979. 889 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 889 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40320896&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.