# NTSB FTW97LA366: Robinson R22 Beta, N8316W, Huntsville, TX, September 27, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 27, 1997, 11:15 local (16:15 UTC) - Place: Huntsville, TX - Coordinates: 30.709129, -95.539108 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.7091&lon=-95.5391&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report October 30, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20358 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW97LA366 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20358/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA366 ## Probable cause failure of the student pilot to maintain directional control of the helicopter during a flare to landing. Factors relating to the accident were: the student pilot's misinterpretation of the wind direction, his selection of the wrong runway, and the resultant tailwind during landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown - wind information - misread, pilot in command (contributing factor) - wrong runway - selected, pilot in command (contributing factor) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Roll over, landing - flare/touchdown - dynamic rollover ## Analysis The student pilot was making a downwind approach to runway 36, when he lost directional control of the helicopter. During the approach, he realized he 'was coming in (too) fast,' and continued down the runway. At about '5 feet from the ground' and approximately 500 feet from the departure end of the runway, he applied aft cyclic, 'pulled collective and add[ed] left pedal.' The helicopter began to spin to the right and drift to the east. The student applied 'left pedal;' however, the spin did not stop. The helicopter descended, and the 'right skid' impacted the ground. Subsequently, the helicopter 'rolled over to the right.' Before the pilot had started his final approach to land, he crossed the runway at mid-field at about 800 feet to check the windsock, and he 'thought that the wind was a little bit strong from North West;' however, a flight instructor who witnessed the accident, reported that the wind was out of the south. Density altitude was 1,767 feet. ## Factual narrative On September 27, 1997, approximately 1115 central daylight time, a Robinson R22 Beta helicopter, N8316W, registered to and operated by Helicopter Services, Inc., as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 solo cross country flight, was substantially damaged during landing at Huntsville Municipal Airport, Huntsville, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a company flight plan was filed. The student pilot, sole occupant of the helicopter, sustained minor injuries. The flight originated from Houston, Texas, about 45 minutes before the accident. During a telephone interview, with the assistance of an interpreter, conducted by the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC) and on the enclosed Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, the Japanese student pilot reported that about 7 miles southeast of the Huntsville Municipal Airport, he observed "smoke from the ground moving West to East," and then announced his position to Huntsville on frequency 122.8 Mhz. He did not hear anybody on the radio, so he "decided to cross the runway to check the windsock." He crossed at mid-field at about 800 feet indicated [msl] and saw the windsock. He "thought that the wind was a little bit strong from North West." The student pilot further reported that he was making an approach to a touch down zone for runway 36, but was coming in too fast and decided to continue down the runway. At about "5 feet from the ground" and approximately 500 feet from the departure end of the runway, he applied aft cyclic, "pulled collective and add[ed] left pedal." The helicopter began a spin to the right and drift to the east. He applied "left pedal;" however, the spin did not stop. The helicopter descended and its "right skid" impacted the ground. Subsequently, the helicopter "rolled over to the right." A flight instructor and his student reported that they observed the helicopter land on "runway 36 with the wind out of the south." The helicopter drifted to the east of the runway and ascended to an altitude of about 20 feet above the ground. The helicopter started to spin to the right, "slowly at first, but picking up speed of rotation. The helicopter completed three full 360 turns with pitch angles varying about 15 degrees up and down." The helicopter descended, and the "main rotor blades struck the ground first and torqued the helicopter into the ground at an angle not appearing to exceed 30 degrees, thereby forcing it on its side." Examination of the accident site by the FAA inspector revealed that the helicopter was in the grassy area between the runway and taxiway on its left side. Examination of the helicopter revealed that the left skid tube was fractured, the tailboom was partially separated, and the tail rotor drive shaft was separated; however, there was rotational evidence within the tailboom. Continuity was established to all flight controls. At the time of the accident the density altitude was calculated at 1,767 feet. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8316W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8316W-1998-04-03), registration cancelled 1998-04-03, S/N 2482 (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) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2482 - Airframe hours: 848 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-B2C 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Helicopter Services, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 23, 1997, 10 hours before - Departed: DWH, HOUSTON, TX - Destination: UTS - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: UTS, Huntsville Municipal, runway 36, 5,004 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 47 total, 47 in this make and model, 13 as pilot in command, 47 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: UTS ## 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 19970927029179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970927029179A), Sep 27, 1997: Robsin R22, Huntsville, TX, Substantial damage. Solo xcountry. Landed downwind. Picked up. Began right spin. Left skid hit ground. Helicopter rolled over. (-23) student pilot, on solo cross country, lost… 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.