# NTSB FTW02LA227: Robinson R22 Beta, N681MP, Cornudas, TX, August 3, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 3, 2002, 12:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Cornudas, TX - Coordinates: 31.79, -105.711669 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.7900&lon=-105.7117&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report June 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Robinson Helicopter, FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 55385 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW02LA227 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55385/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55385 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA227 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain rotor RPM and his improper landing flare. A contributing factor was the activation of a warning light. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise - precautionary landing - initiated, pilot in command - annunciator panel light(s) - activated (contributing factor) - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - rotor rpm - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - flare - delayed, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The 3,053-hour pilot reported that he was ferrying the helicopter to its new owner. The pilot stated that while in cruise flight, at 1,000 feet AGL, the helicopter's clutch light flickered then went out. Approximately one minute later, the clutch light flickered again and went out. The pilot elected to land the helicopter. The pilot entered an autorotation, slowed the aircraft to 65 knots, and made a 180-degree left turn. After the helicopter stopped its turn, and as it descended to approximately 200 feet AGL, the helicopter encountered a "high sink rate." As the helicopter descended through 150 feet AGL, the pilot rolled on throttle, rejoined the needles, and increased collective pitch. The aircraft continued to descend abnormally, and the pilot stated the airspeed was 60 knots. The pilot further increased collective, and by 50 feet AGL, the helicopter began to "shudder." The pilot began to flare the aircraft, and it touched down "hard," bounced, and touched down again. The left landing skid folded out and up, and the helicopter slid approximately 30 to 40 feet before coming to rest on its right side. Examination of the clutch assembly, actuator assembly, and Vee belts revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On August 3, 2002, approximately 1230 mountain daylight time, a Robinson R22 Beta helicopter, N681MP was substantially damaged during a hard landing near Cornudas, Texas. The helicopter was registered to and operated by Prestige Helicopters, Inc., of Chambler, Georgia. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the helicopter, sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 positioning flight. The 212 nautical mile cross-country flight originated from El Paso International Airport (ELP), near El Paso, Texas, at 1200, and was destined for Midland International Airport (MAF), near Midland, Texas. The 3,053-hour pilot reported to the NTSB investigator-in-charge that he was ferrying the helicopter to its new owner located in Louisville, Kentucky. The pilot stated that while in cruise flight, at 1,000 feet AGL, the helicopter's clutch light flickered then went out. Approximately one minute later, the clutch light flickered again and went out. The pilot elected to land the helicopter. The pilot entered an autorotation, slowed the aircraft to 65 knots, and made a 180-degree left turn. After the helicopter stopped its turn, and as it descended to approximately 200 feet AGL, the helicopter encountered a "high sink rate." As the helicopter descended through 150 feet AGL, the pilot rolled on throttle, rejoined the needles, and increased collective pitch. The aircraft continued to descend abnormally, and the pilot stated the airspeed was 60 knots. The pilot further increased collective, and by 50 feet AGL, the helicopter began to "shudder." The pilot began to flare the aircraft, and it touched down "hard," bounced, and touched down again. The left landing skid folded out and up, and the helicopter slid approximately 30 to 40 feet before coming to rest on its right side. The pilot stated that he released his seatbelt and "crawled" out of the aircraft. Examination of the aircraft by a FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, revealed that the tail boom separated approximately 18 to 24 inches forward of the vertical fin. Detailed examination of the clutch assembly, actuator assembly, and Vee belts was accomplished under the supervision of the FAA at the Robinson Helicopter Facility, Torrance, California, on September 10, 2002. They were functionally tested and operated properly, revealing no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N681MP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N681MP-2004-07-09), registration cancelled 2004-07-09, S/N 3345, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Robinson 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: 3345 - Airframe hours: 28 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-J2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Registered owner: Prestige Helicopters, Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: ELP, El Paso, TX - Destination: MAF, Midland, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review January 30, 2001; seat: right; flight hours: 3,053 total, 872 in this make and model, 2,990 as pilot in command, 219 in the last 90 days, 75 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F ## 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 20020803022439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020803022439A), Aug 3, 2002: Robsin R22BETA, Cornudas, TX, Substantial damage. -23) On 08/03/02, approximately 1235 mountain daylight time, a Robinson model R-22B, N681MP, registered to prestige helicopter's inc., 2001 flightway drive,… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 25, 2004, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55385. 336 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 251 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465771&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Report from Manufacturer (item 2, .PDF, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465772&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Report%20from%20Manufacturer-Master.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 3, .PDF, 36 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465773&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-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.