# NTSB GAA15CA032: Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta, N8363D, Fort Davis, TX, April 3, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 3, 2015, 11:15 local (16:15 UTC) - Place: Fort Davis, TX - Coordinates: 30.520833, -104.134162 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.5208&lon=-104.1342&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Settling with power/vortex ring state](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/244) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 9, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA Lubbock FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 90977 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA032 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90977/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90977 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA032 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter during flight, which resulted in the helicopter impacting terrain. ## 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: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: prop/rotor parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 182 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: debris/dirt/foreign object](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [All aircraft, 101 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Settling with power/vortex ring state](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/244) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 52 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/244/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231); cases with it: [All aircraft, 161 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated he was positioning the helicopter to have the sole passenger take a photograph of an animal and a settling with power condition occurred. The pilot stated that a gust of wind came from a nearby hill and began to push the helicopter toward the ground so the pilot conducted a running landing to an open field. During the landing, the pilot reported that the helicopter struck an anthill and rolled sideways. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail boom. The pilot verified that there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated he was positioning the helicopter to have the sole passenger take a photograph of an animal and a settling with power condition occurred. The pilot stated that a gust of wind came from a nearby hill and began to push the helicopter toward the ground so the pilot conducted a running landing to an open field. During the landing, the pilot reported that the helicopter struck an anthill and rolled sideways. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail boom. After multiple requests, the pilot did not turn in the National Transportation Safety Board Form 6120.1 Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report as requested. The pilot verified that there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: N8363D (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22 BETA (BETA) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2745 - Year built: 1997 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Fort Davis, TX - Destination: Fort Davis, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; injuries: none; commercial; medical: class 2, unknown; last flight review August 30, 2013; flight hours: 3,500 total, 2,800 in this make and model, 100 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.21 inHg - Observed at: KMRF, 11 nm away ## 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 20150403003869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150403003869A), Apr 3, 2015: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, Fort Davis, TX, Substantial damage. On April 3, 2015, at 11:15 CDT, a Robinson R-22 helicopter bearing registration number N8363D, was attempting to land at a Private Ranch approximately 16 miles… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 1, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90977. 4.6 MB in all. - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 1, .PDF, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40427125&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Helicopter Left Side (Photo Courtesy of Pilot) (item 2, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40427127&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Helicopter%20Left%20Side%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Pilot)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Helicopter Right Side (Photo Courtesy of Pilot) (item 3, .PDF, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40427128&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Helicopter%20Right%20Side%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Pilot)-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.