# NTSB ERA15CA079: Robinson Helicopter R66, N64HF, Henniker, NH, December 22, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 22, 2014, 08:40 local (13:40 UTC) - Place: Henniker, NH - Coordinates: 43.180557, -71.833335 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.1806&lon=-71.8333&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 7, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 90520 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA15CA079 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90520/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90520 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15CA079 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while landing, which resulted in a collision with a snow bank. Contributing to the accident was ice that covered the landing surface. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R66, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7640130), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: yaw control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R66, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/cases.md?model=7640130), [All aircraft, 149 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: snow/slush/ice covered surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R66, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md?model=7640130), [All aircraft, 219 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R66, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7640130), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R66, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7640130), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was landing the helicopter at a private heliport. The outside air temperature was about -1 degree Celsius (C). After a normal touchdown, the helicopter began to spin and the tail rotor struck a snow bank, which resulted in substantial damage to the tail rotor and lower vertical stabilizer. After exiting the helicopter, the pilot noted that the ground was coated with "black ice." The pilot reported that he did not experience any malfunctions or failures of the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. He further reported about 635 hours of rotorcraft flight experience, which included 85 hours in the same make and model as the accident helicopter. ## Factual narrative The pilot was landing the helicopter at a private heliport. The outside air temperature was about -1 degree Celsius (C). After a normal touchdown, the helicopter began to spin and the tail rotor struck a snow bank, which resulted in substantial damage to the tail rotor and lower vertical stabilizer. After exiting the helicopter, the pilot noted that the ground was coated with "black ice." The pilot reported that he did not experience any malfunctions or failures of the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. He further reported about 635 hours of rotorcraft flight experience, which included 85 hours in the same make and model as the accident helicopter. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N64HF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N64HF-2019-07-15), registration cancelled 2019-07-15, S/N 0268, built 2013 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER CO R66 - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R66](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r66) (registry code 7640130) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rolls-Royce 250-C300/A1](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c300-a1) (registry code 54232, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 0268 - Year built: 2013 - Airframe hours: 79 - Engines: Rolls Royce 250-C300/A1 285 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Hillsboro Ford Inc - Registered owner: Hillsboro Ford Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 2014 - Departed: LCI, LACONIA, NH - Destination: Henniker, NH ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; private; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 27, 2013; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 634 total, 85 in this make and model, 634 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,200 ft overcast - Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.36 inHg - Observed at: LCI, 26 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 20141222021639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20141222021639A), Dec 22, 2014: Robinson Helicopter Co R66, Henniker, NH, Substantial damage. PIC stated he arrived at his helipad and it was snow covered. He said the black top area next to the helipad was clear and appeared just to be wet. He hovered… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 2, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90520. 2.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424449&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Observations (item 2, .PDF, 101 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424450&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Observations-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Helicopter (Right side) (Courtesy of the FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 610 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424451&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Helicopter%20(Right%20side)%20(Courtesy%20of%20the%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Tail Rotor Damage (Courtesy of the FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 707 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424452&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Tail%20Rotor%20Damage%20(Courtesy%20of%20the%20FAA)-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.