# NTSB ERA22LA135: Robinson Helicopter R44 II, N929WA, White Plains, NY, February 17, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 17, 2022, 10:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: White Plains, NY · Heliport - Coordinates: 41.066953, -73.707566 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0670&lon=-73.7076&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 104694 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA135 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104694/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104694 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA135 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain stabilized lateral control during landing in gusty conditions which resulted in a dynamic rollover when the skids contacted the platform unevenly. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 161 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=7640122), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial helicopter pilot was attempting to land on a mobile landing platform in gusty conditions. As the helicopter settled down onto the helipad, the skids contacted the pad unevenly, which caused it to tilt to the right. The pilot attempted to correct and lowered the collective, but the helicopter rapidly entered a dynamic rollover and struck the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage, mast, and main rotor blades. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N929WA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N929WA), registered now, S/N 14233, built 2018 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii) (registry code 7640122) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-ae1a5) (registry code 41899, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 14233 - Year built: 2018 - Airframe hours: 1791.4 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: Wings Air Helicopters LLC - Registered owner: Wings Air Helicopters LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, December 7, 2021 - Departed: 6N5, New York, NY - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: HPN, Westchester County - Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 15, 2021; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 4,844 total, 1,684 in this make and model, 4,807 as pilot in command, 72.9 in the last 90 days, 27.5 in the last 30 days, 3.8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 6 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: HPN - METAR: KHPN 171456Z VRB06G18KT 10SM CLR 15/07 A3018 RMK AO2 SLP220 T01500067 58017 ## 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 20220217000929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220217000929A), Feb 17, 2022: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, White Plains, NY, Substantial damage. 17 Feb 2022 @ 1008 EST / 1508Z pilot was landing at hpn on helicopter platform at FBO close to intersection of taxiways 'k' and 'c' in what the pilot reports… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 26, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104694. 4.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13342442&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Operator%27s%206120%20Accident%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation_pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 122 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13344241&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation_Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memo for record_FAA email statement excerpt (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 133 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13344910&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record_FAA%20Email%20Statement-Rel.pdf - Photo array_accident site and damage (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13343316&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Site%20and%20Damage%20Photographs-Rel.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.