# NTSB ERA22LA357: Robinson Helicopter R44, N45CA, Leghighton, PA, August 3, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 3, 2022, 12:50 local (16:50 UTC)
- Place: Leghighton, PA
- Coordinates: 40.833888, -75.742222 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8339&lon=-75.7422&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: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 2 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): 105669
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA357
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105669/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105669
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA357

## Probable cause

The pilot’s improper recovery from a bounced landing on a slope, which resulted in dynamic rollover.

## 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 R44, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R44, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md?model=7640120), [All aircraft, 161 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot explained that the accident occurred at the completion of a local flight that departed from a private residence. While landing from a hover to a “slight slope,” the pilot said he lowered the collective “too rapidly,” the helicopter “landed roughly” and that he raised the collective control to recover the landing. “At that point, I entered a dynamic rollover to the left in which I was unable to recover.” The helicopter came to rest on its side with substantial damage to the cabin and the tailboom. The pilot reported there were no mechanical deficiencies with the helicopter that precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N45CA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N45CA), registered now, S/N 2242, built 2012 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44
- Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R44](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44) (registry code 7640120) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O-540-F1B5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-540-f1b5) (registry code 42353, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 2242
- Year built: 2012
- Airframe hours: 1294
- Engines: Lycoming O-540-FIB5 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Edh Services LLC
- Registered owner: Edh Services LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 13, 2022, 26 hours before
- Destination: Same as departure
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; private; medical: class 3, waiver time limited special; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 385 total, 315 in this make and model, 95 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observed at: KABE, 17 nm away
- METAR: KABE 031651Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 29/15 A3003 RMK AO2 SLP165 T02890150

## 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 20220803014039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220803014039A), Aug 3, 2022: Robinson Helicopter R44, Lehighton, PA, Substantial damage. Accident summary: 08/03/2022, 13:00 EDT,[privacy data omitted], R-44, [privacy data omitted] was involved in a dynamic rollover accident while attempting to…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 27, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105669. 7.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 3.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14295341&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14294959&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=PIC%20Haydt%20-%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14294969&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.

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