- Date
- June 11, 1995, 16:45 local (21:45 UTC)
- Place
- Weatherford, TX
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N9074YRobinson R-22
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 19, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950611040429A
- Case key
- 19446
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain control during landing resulting in the tail rotor blades striking the ground and separating, and the subsequent loss of directional (anti-torque) control. A factor was the uphill terrain.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot reported that he was landing on a 5 to 7 degree uphill river bank when the helicopter 'lost anti-torque control and spun.' During the landing, witnesses observed the helicopter 'dipping' forward and then 'rock back and forth.' Ground scars, corresponding to leading edge damage on both tail rotor blades, were found at the site. Additionally, both tail rotor blades were found separated from their yokes and the tail boom was structurally damaged.
Factual narrative
On June 11, 1995, at 1645 central daylight time (CDT), a Robinson R-22 helicopter, N9074Y, was substantially damaged while landing on a river bank near Weatherford, Texas. The pilot rated student and passenger received minor injuries. The helicopter, owned by the pilot, was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The personal flight originated at Downtown Airpark, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, at 1430 CDT and was en route to Grand Prairie Municipal Airport, Dallas, Texas. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed.
The pilot reported that as he was landing on a 5 to 7 degree uphill slope, the helicopter "lost anti-torque control and spun." According to witnesses, the helicopter was landing down wind on a river bank when they observed the nose "dipping" forward, and then "rock back and forth." A Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that he observed ground scars corresponding to leading edge damage found on both tail rotor blades. Additionally, both tail rotor blades were separated from their yolks, and the tail boom was structurally damaged.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9074Y
- Reported as
- Robinson R-22
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 241
- Airframe hours
- 3,942
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-B2C, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Brian Vater
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 30, 1995 · 45 hours before
- Departed
- 2DT · Oklahoma City, OK
- Destination
- F67 · Grand Prairie, TX
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 38
- Certificates
- Private, Student
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 400 total · 111 in this make and model · 315 as pilot in command · 1 in the last 90 days · 23 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.