- Date
- December 15, 1990, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place
- West Kingston, RI
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N9073SRobinson R22
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 12, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19901215054359A
- Case key
- 36859
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control. Contributing was the malfunction of the pedal assembly.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
After taking off from an open field and establishing a climb, the left passenger tail rotor pedal retaining clip became dislodged restricting pedal movement in the Robinson R-22 helicopter. The pilot stated that the passenger could move the retaining clip as needed to allow some travel in the pedals and he thought a safe landing could be accomplished. On final approach he pushed his pedals and they once again jammed causing the helicopter to spin to the right and tilt left. He said the helicopter touched down but continued to turn right and then rolled. Post-crash investigations achieved by the FAA showed that by applying minimal upward pressure on the tail rotor pedal, it would disengage and rotate to cause misaligment.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9073S
- Reported as
- Robinson R22
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 0229
- Airframe hours
- 1,199
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 125 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Dr. Charles F. Samson
- Registered owner
- charles f. samson
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 1, 1990 · 10 hours before
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 42
- Certificate
- Private
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 500 total · 500 in this make and model · 475 as pilot in command · 10 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 2,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 39 °F, dew point -0 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.