# NTSB ERA10CA064: Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta, N74632, Pahokee, FL, November 14, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 14, 2009, 12:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Pahokee, FL - Coordinates: 26.79111, -80.689445 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.7911&lon=-80.6894&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: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report March 3, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 75054 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10CA064 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75054/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75054 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA064 ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/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, 9,295 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, 4,585 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, 85 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he had just landed and hover taxied to a fuel station. He established himself in a hover approximately 20 feet southwest of the fuel station, noting that the windsock indicated a strong quartering headwind. While he was hovering, he encountered a gust of wind. The helicopter began to yaw to the right and the nose lowered. The pilot was unable to regain control and the main rotor blades struck a concrete pole. The helicopter rolled onto its right side, substantially damaging the main rotor blades, fuselage, and tail. The winds recorded at closest reporting station about the time of the accident were from 020 degrees at 11 knots, with gusts to 15 knots. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that he had just landed and hover taxied to a fuel station. He established himself in a hover approximately 20 feet southwest of the fuel station, noting that the windsock indicated a strong quartering headwind. While he was hovering, he encountered a gust of wind. The helicopter began to yaw to the right and the nose lowered. The pilot was unable to regain control and the main rotor blades struck a concrete pole. The helicopter rolled onto its right side, substantially damaging the main rotor blades, fuselage, and tail. The winds recorded at closest reporting station about the time of the accident were from 020 degrees at 11 knots, with gusts to 15 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N74632](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N74632-2018-05-31), registration cancelled 2018-05-31, S/N 3963, built 2005 (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 O-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (registry code 41575, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 3963 - Airframe hours: 2800 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Palm Beach Helicopters - Registered owner: Spitzer Matt DBA - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 20, 2009, 4 hours before - Departed: OBE, Okeechobee, FL - Destination: PHK, Pahokee, FL - Airport: PHK, Palm Beach County Glades ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 24; injuries: none; private; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 24, 2009; seat: right; flight hours: 67 total, 67 in this make and model, 20 as pilot in command, 58 in the last 90 days, 29 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 11 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: OBE, 30 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 20091114052059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20091114052059A), Nov 14, 2009: Robinson He R22 BETA, Destroyed. After landing on runway 35 at Palm Beach County Glades Airport (phk), Mr. Beckstrom was cleared to taxi to the refueling facility. Mr. Beckstrom estimated the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 9, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75054. 554 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 506 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40321918&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40321919&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.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.