# NTSB GAA17CA130: Robinson Helicopter R22, N883KC, Armstrong, TX, January 31, 2017

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: January 31, 2017, 09:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place: Armstrong, TX
- Coordinates: 26.795278, -97.952499 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.7953&lon=-97.9525&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 4, 2017
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 94678
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA130
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94678/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94678
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA130

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to remove the left helicopter skid tie-down before takeoff, which resulted in dynamic roll-over.

## 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 R22 BETA, 96 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md)
- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring equip/instruments](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot; cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 142 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Takeoff: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 35 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 161 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The helicopter pilot reported that, during takeoff from a trailer, the tie-down remained attached to the left skid and that the helicopter experienced a dynamic roll-over. The helicopter rolled off the trailer to the left and impacted the ground. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, tailboom, and firewall. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot of the helicopter reported that during takeoff from a trailer, the tie-down remained attached to the left skid and the helicopter experienced dynamic rollover. The helicopter rolled off the trailer to the left and impacted the ground. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, tailboom, and firewall. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N883KC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N883KC-2018-03-30), registration cancelled 2018-03-30, S/N 4354, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER 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-J2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-j2a) (registry code 42314, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 4354
- Year built: 2008
- Airframe hours: 2181.8
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-J2A 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, January 19, 2017
- Departed: Armstrong, TX
- Destination: Armstrong, TX
- Flight plan: Unknown
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; injuries: none; commercial; medical: class 2; last flight review August 19, 2015; flight hours: 7,800 total, 7,200 in this make and model, 7,600 as pilot in command, 180 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 11 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observed at: KEBG, 23 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 20170131000839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170131000839A), Jan 31, 2017: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, Armstrong, TX, Destroyed. Pilot failed to remove tie down on left skid. When attempting to hover off the trailer the aircraft rolled left striking the ground.

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 8, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94678. 2.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40449766&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Memorandum for Record – Telephone Interview, Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 77 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40449767&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20%E2%80%93%20Telephone%20Interview,%20Pilot-Master.PDF
- Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 222 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40449768&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.

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