# NTSB NYC02LA186: Robinson R-22B, N707RG, Jamestown, KY, September 7, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 7, 2002, 12:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Jamestown, KY - Coordinates: 36.903057, -85.024169 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9031&lon=-85.0242&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 18, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 55666 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC02LA186 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55666/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02LA186 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain the proper descent rate, which resulted in low rotor rpm and a collision with water. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - proper descent rate - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - water - rotor rpm - low, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The helicopter was being utilized by a photographer to take pictures of boats during a race conducted on a lake. According to the pilot, the helicopter was about 200 feet above the lake, when he spotted a boat that was not previously photographed. The pilot made a left turn and began a descent to keep pace with the boat. The pilot further stated "...I noticed an abnormal sink rate and put in aft cyclic. The rate did not arrest, so I brought in more aft cyclic along with collective power. As I came into about 50 to 100 feet agl, I heard a low RPM warning horn. I continued to slow the [helicopter], while rolling on throttle. The descent rate brought the [helicopter] in contact with the water." The helicopter sank and came to rest at a depth of about 115 feet. It was not recovered. ## Factual narrative On September 7, 2002, about 1230 eastern daylight time, a Robinson R-22B, N707RG, was substantially damaged after it impacted a lake and sank while maneuvering near Jamestown, Kentucky. The certificated commercial pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the aerial photography flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the helicopter was being utilized by a photographer to take pictures of boats during a race conducted on Lake Cumberland. The pilot said the helicopter was about 200 feet above the lake, and he had been flying for more than an hour, when he spotted a boat that was not previously photographed. The pilot made a left turn and began a decent to keep pace with the boat. He further stated: "...I noticed an abnormal sink rate and put in aft cyclic. The rate did not arrest, so I brought in more aft cyclic along with collective power. As I came into about 50 to 100 feet agl, I heard a low RPM warning horn. I continued to slow the [helicopter], while rolling on throttle. The descent rate brought the [helicopter] in contact with the water." The helicopter sank and came to rest at a depth of about 115 feet. It was not recovered. The pilot reported approximately 1,437 hours of total rotorcraft flight experience, which included about 650 hours in make and model. The helicopter was maintained under a manufacturer’s inspection program, and was inspected the day before the accident. It had been operated about 7 hours since the inspection. The helicopter was manufactured in 2001 and had accumulated about 505 hours since new. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N707RG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N707RG-2006-05-01), registration cancelled 2006-05-01, S/N 3266, built 2001 (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 O-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (registry code 41575, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 3266 - Airframe hours: 505 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-J2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Registered owner: Prestige Helicopter - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, September 6, 2002, 7 hours before - Departed: K24, JAMESTOWN, KY - Airport: K24, Russell County ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review January 20, 2001; seat: right; flight hours: 1,437 total, 648 in this make and model, 1,377 as pilot in command, 207 in the last 90 days, 66 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.22 inHg - Observed at: SME, 25 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 20020907038569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020907038569A), Sep 7, 2002: Robsin R22BETA, Jamestown, KY, Destroyed. (-23) Descending from 100 feet to approach a boat for photography, low RPM horn sounded, pilot attempted to roll on throttle unsuccessfully and went into the… 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.