# NTSB SEA07CA256: Rogerson Hiller RH-1100, N6014U, Stanwood, WA, September 11, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 11, 2007, 11:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Stanwood, WA - Coordinates: 48.254165, -122.435279 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.2542&lon=-122.4353&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 29, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 66644 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA07CA256 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66644/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=66644 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07CA256 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to execute a go-around and his failure to reduce his groundspeed to zero prior to touching down on the rough/uneven terrain. Factors include the momentary restriction of a flight control, rough/uneven terrain, and a tailwind. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Roll over, landing - flare/touchdown - cyclic - restricted, passenger (contributing factor) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - airspeed - excessive, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) ## Analysis While en route to his planned destination, the pilot noticed that one of two latches on the right side cabin door had come loose. He therefore elected to land in a grassy area alongside the runway of a nearby airstrip. While turning from base to final, the cyclic was momentarily restricted by being caught on the shorts of the passenger. Although the movement of the cyclic was only momentarily restricted, it resulted in the pilot delaying his transition to a slower airspeed and a reduced rate of descent prior to establishing a pre-landing hover. Instead of executing a go-around, the pilot decided to continue his transition, but he was unable to enter a hover prior to touching down with a slight forward movement on the rough uneven terrain. When the helicopter touched down, the left skid became stuck in a rut, and that, along with a slight tailwind and the residual forward movement of the helicopter, resulted in a dynamic rollover. In his written statement, the pilot said, "Making a go-around would have been the best way to prevent this accident." ## Factual narrative While en route to his planned destination, the pilot noticed that one of two latches on the right side cabin door had come loose. He therefore elected to land in a grassy area alongside the runway of a nearby airstrip. While turning from base to final, the cyclic was momentarily restricted by being caught on the shorts of the passenger. Although the movement of the cyclic was only momentarily restricted, it resulted in the pilot delaying his transition to a slower airspeed and a reduced rate of descent prior to establishing a pre-landing hover. Instead of executing a go-around, the pilot decided to continue his transition, but he was unable to enter a hover prior to touching down with a slight forward movement on the rough uneven terrain. When the helicopter touched down, the left skid became stuck in a rut, and that, along with a slight tailwind and the residual forward movement of the helicopter, resulted in a dynamic rollover. In his written statement, the pilot said, "Making a go-around would have been the best way to prevent this accident." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6014U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6014U-2013-06-12), registration cancelled 2013-06-12, S/N 504, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Rogerson Hiller Corp. RH-1100 - Registry model: [Hiller FH-1100](https://openairdocs.org/model/hiller-fh-1100) (registry code 4361415) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Allison 250-C20 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c20-series) (registry code 03020, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 504 - Engines: Allison 250-C20B turbo shaft - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: David A. Robinson - Registered owner: Robinson Properties and Investments, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: KBVS, Burliington, WA - Destination: KPAE, Everett, WA - Airport: 13W, Camano-Stanwood ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; flight hours: 1,500 total, 110 in this make and model, 42 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 20070911017799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070911017799A), Sep 11, 2007: Hiller FH1100, Stanwood, WA, Destroyed. (-23) On 09/11/2007, N6014U owned and operated by the pilot [privacy data omitted] hard landed a helicopter at Camano Island airport resulting in collision… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 24, 2007, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=66644. 331 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 331 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40284387&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.