# NTSB NYC02LA149: Robinson R-22B, N8347Y, Madison Heights, VA, July 30, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 29, 2002, 20:30 local (Jul 30, 2002, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Madison Heights, VA - Coordinates: 37.433334, -79.083335 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4333&lon=-79.0833&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 8, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 55338 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC02LA149 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55338/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55338 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02LA149 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to attain the proper touchdown point on the helipad, which resulted in a rollover. A factor in this accident was pilot fatigue. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Roll over, landing - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - fatigue, pilot in command (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing ## Analysis The pilot departed from his residence at 0700, and flew to an airport to complete a 100-hour inspection on the helicopter. He departed the airport 1830 for the return flight home and arrived about 2030. The pilot said he was "very tired" and attempted to land on a "very tight helipad" in front of the building where the helicopter was hangared. As the helicopter touched down, it was not far enough on the helipad and began to tilt backward. The pilot attempted to correct the helicopter's position; however, it rolled over and struck the ground. The pilot further stated he did not experience any mechanical problems with the helicopter. ## Factual narrative On July 29, 2002, about 2030 eastern daylight time, a Robinson R-22B, N8347Y, was substantially damaged while landing on a private helipad, in Madison Heights, Virginia. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight that departed Hampton Roads Executive Airport (PVG), Portsmouth, Virginia. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In a written statement, the pilot said he departed from his residence at 0700, and flew to PVG to complete a 100-hour inspection on the helicopter. He departed PVG about 1830 for the return flight home. When he arrived, he was "very tired" and attempted to land on a "very tight helipad" in front of the building where the helicopter was hangared. As the helicopter touched down, it was not far enough on the helipad and began to tilt backward. The pilot attempted to correct the helicopter's position; however, it rolled over and struck the ground. The pilot further stated he did not experience any mechanical problems with the helicopter. He reported 97 hours of total flight experience, all in the R-22. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8347Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8347Y-2006-07-25), registration cancelled 2006-07-25, S/N 2683, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Robinson R-22B - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (registry code 7640110) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2683 - Airframe hours: 1072 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-J2A 140 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Wingfield Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 29, 2002, 2 hours before - Departed: PVG, PORTSMOUTH, VA - Destination: NONE, Madison Heights, VA - Airport: NONE, Private ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; private; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review October 3, 2001; seat: right; flight hours: 97 total, 97 in this make and model, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: LYH, 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 20020729037789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020729037789A), Jul 29, 2002: Robsin R22BETA, Madison Heights, VA, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot landed on his personal helipad, which had an incline on its end, sloping from the pad's flat surface to ground level. The helicopter tipped… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 30, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55338. 490 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 490 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40464636&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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.