# NTSB NYC02LA075: Robinson R-22, N961CL, Mount Vernon, OH, March 27, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 27, 2002, 12:55 local (17:55 UTC) - Place: Mount Vernon, OH - Coordinates: 40.328609, -82.523612 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3286&lon=-82.5236&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured; on the ground: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 18, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 54460 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC02LA075 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54460/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54460 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02LA075 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while 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 - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown - object - other person ## Analysis As the pilot was attempting a landing to a ramp area after a solo flight, the helicopter touched down and bounced back into the air. The helicopter touched down a second time, and began to spin to the left. The tailboom struck a ground observer in the head, before the helicopter rolled over and came to rest on its side. The pilot additionally recalled that he had applied full power upon the first touchdown on the pavement, "and fell victim to torque and or tail rotor thrust." ## Factual narrative On March 27, 2002, about 1255 eastern standard time, a Robinson R-22 helicopter, N961CL, was substantially damaged while landing at the Knox County Airport, Mount Vernon, Ohio. The certificated private pilot was not injured; however, a ground observer received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, he was attempting a landing to a ramp area after a solo flight. A observer was positioned on the ground to observe the landing. When the helicopter touched down it bounced back into the air, and the pilot began to lose directional control. The helicopter touched down a second time, began to spin to the left, and the tailboom struck the ground observer in the head. The helicopter then rolled left, and came to rest on its side. The pilot additionally recalled that he had applied full power upon the first touchdown on the pavement, "and fell victim to torque and or tail rotor thrust." The pilot reported about 30 hours of flight experience in helicopters, and was in the process of obtaining his helicopter rating. The wind reported at a nearby airport, about the time of the accident, were from 260 degrees at 7 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N961CL](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N961CL), registered now, S/N 0594, built 1986 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Robinson R-22 - 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: 0594 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 140 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Jacobs Wendall - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 7B3, Baltimore, OH - Destination: 4I3, Mount Vernon, OH - Airport: 4I3, Knox County Airport, runway 2/8, 5,001 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review August 21, 2000; seat: right; flight hours: 180 total, 27 in this make and model, 11 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.23 inHg - Observed at: CMH, 13 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 20020327005999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020327005999A), Mar 27, 2002: Robsin R22BETA, Mount Vernon, OH, No damage. (-23) The student pilot was completing his solo cross country flight. Upon touch down the student pilot lost control of the helicopter. The helicopter spun to… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 4, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54460. 301 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 301 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40394855&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.