# NTSB WPR09CA155: Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta, N157SH, Douglas, AZ, March 14, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: March 13, 2009, 18:30 local (Mar 14, 2009, 01:30 UTC)
- Place: Douglas, AZ
- Coordinates: 31.754167, -109.081947
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.7542&lon=-109.0819&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Standing-engine(s) operating: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 11, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 73517
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09CA155
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73517/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73517
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA155

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to properly secure the helicopter prior to exiting the aircraft.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause)
- [Parking/securing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01011000): Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause)

## Analysis

The helicopter pilot reported that he landed on a semi-trailer to pay the truck driver for a load of hay, and subsequently exited the helicopter with the engine running, the control frictions on, and the governor off. The pilot revealed that after exiting the helicopter and while he was paying the truck driver, the helicopter fell off of the truck, which resulted in substantial damage to its tail boom.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that he landed on a semi-trailer to pay the truck driver for a load of hay, and subsequently exited the helicopter with the engine running, the control frictions on, and the governor off. The pilot revealed that after exiting the helicopter and while he was paying the truck driver, the helicopter fell off of the truck, which resulted in substantial damage to its tail boom.

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Standing-engine(s) operating: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event)

## Aircraft

- Registration: N157SH (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 4163
- Airframe hours: 975
- Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Other work use, Part 91
- Operator: Richard Snure
- Registered owner: Matthew Spitzer
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, December 1, 2008, 75 hours before
- Departed: Douglas, AZ
- Destination: Douglas, AZ
- Flight plan: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; commercial; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 30, 2008; seat: right; flight hours: 3,500 total, 3,500 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

## 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 20090313003189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090313003189A), Mar 13, 2009: Robsin R22BETA, Douglas, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot had been out flying his R-22 all day attempting to round up cattle because of a wildfire burning on his property. He states that he had ordered…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 15, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73517. 768 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 748 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40311681&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Record of Conversation (item 2, .PDF, 20 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40311682&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-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.

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