# NTSB GAA20CA035: Robinson R22, N4066S, Overton, NV, October 17, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 17, 2019, 16:20 local (23:20 UTC) - Place: Overton, NV - Coordinates: 36.509998, -114.375831 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.5100&lon=-114.3758&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 21, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 100452 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA20CA035 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100452/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100452 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA20CA035 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain a proper approach and the flight instructor's subsequent failure to maintain an adequate climb rate during an attempted go-around in gusting tailwind conditions, which resulted in a hard landing and dynamic rollover. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: climb rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 265 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 1,682 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 96 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 9,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 1,201 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 595 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 96 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 9,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 54 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 82 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 10,153 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 36 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 163 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that he told the pilot receiving instruction in the helicopter to shoot an approach to a sandbar in a riverbed. The pilot approached to the south, and the wind was between about 20 to 25 knots from the south. About 20 ft above ground level, the instructor took the flight controls due to a steep and fast approach and initiated a go-around. He performed a climbing left turn to the north, and subsequently the helicopter descended, and he was unable to maneuver it into the wind. The helicopter landed hard, bounced, and yawed right. The helicopter contacted the ground again and rolled onto its left side. The main rotor blades struck the ground, and the tailboom separated. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tailboom. The instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The flight instructor in the helicopter reported that he instructed the pilot receiving instruction to shoot an approach to a sandbar in a riverbed. The pilot approached to the south and the wind was about 20 to 25 knots from the south. About 20 ft above the ground, the instructor took the flight controls due to a steep and fast approach and initiated a go-around. He performed a climbing left turn to the north. The helicopter descended and he was unable to maneuver the helicopter into the wind. The helicopter landed hard, bounced, and yawed to the right. The helicopter contacted the ground again and rolled onto the left side. The main rotor blades struck the ground and the tailboom separated. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tailboom. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4066S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4066S-2020-11-20), registration cancelled 2020-11-20, S/N 1508, built 1990 (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 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 1508 - Year built: 1990 - Airframe hours: 14600 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-B2C 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: California Aviation Services Inc - Registered owner: California Aviation Services Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 14, 2019 - Departed: IFP, Bullhead City, AZ - Destination: U08, Overton, NV - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 35; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 6, 2019; seat: left; flight hours: 1,845 total, 1,450 in this make and model, 1,700 as pilot in command, 120 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 20; injuries: none; private; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 120 total, 120 in this make and model, 60 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 16 knots, gusting 22 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.53 inHg - Observed at: KLSV, 35 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 20191017020139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20191017020139A), Oct 17, 2019: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, Moapa Valley, NV, Substantial damage. On October 17, 2019, at approximately 1700 PDT, N4066S, a Robinson R-22 helicopter, impacted terrain after attempting to land and executing a go-around. There… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 19, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100452. 4.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479252&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Flight Instructor (item 2, .PDF, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479253&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Flight%20Instructor-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479254&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-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.