# NTSB NYC91LA049: Robinson R22, N9073S, West Kingston, RI, December 15, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 15, 1990, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place: West Kingston, RI
- Location: 41.4832° N, 71.5514° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of West Kingston, RI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4832&lon=-71.5514&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 12, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36859
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC91LA049
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36859/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC91LA049

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.  CONTRIBUTING WAS THE MALFUNCTION OF THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, landing
  - rotorcraft flight control,tail rotor pedal - jammed (contributing factor)
  - precautionary landing - attempted, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- Roll over, landing - flare/touchdown

## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9073S-1992-01-17), registration cancelled 1992-01-17, S/N 0229 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON R22
- Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R22](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22) (registry code 7640102) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 0229
- Airframe hours: 1199
- Engines: 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19901215054359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19901215054359A), Dec 15, 1990: Robsin R22, West Kingston, RI, Substantial damage. During landing, tail rotor pedal jammed, helicopter spun to the left and flipped over on touchdown.

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.

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