# NTSB WPR10LA298: Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta, N2548S, Hillsboro, OR, June 19, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 18, 2010, 20:45 local (Jun 19, 2010, 03:45 UTC) - Place: Hillsboro, OR - Coordinates: 45.540554, -122.950279 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.5406&lon=-122.9503&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 7, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Portland FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 76356 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR10LA298 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76356/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76356 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA298 ## Probable cause A partial loss of engine power while on approach for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Power plant](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 198 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100/cases.md) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Autorotation: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 85 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis As the pilot was approaching the destination airport after a local flight, the helicopter's engine rpm began to fluctuate between 100 percent and 60 percent. Although lowering the collective and manipulating the throttle temporarily increased the rpm, it began to fluctuate again, with the rpm decreasing. After the low rotor rpm warning horn and light activated, the pilot made the decision to perform an autorotation to a nearby open field. The helicopter touched down on the skids and subsequently rolled over onto its side. Prior to the accident, the helicopter's engine had been reportedly experiencing rpm fluctuations. A postaccident examination was performed on the engine and the magnetos and governor underwent further analysis. No evidence was found of an anomaly or malfunction that would have prevented the engine from producing normal power. ## Factual narrative On June 18, 2010, about 2045 Pacific daylight time, a Robinson R-22 Beta helicopter, N2548S, impacted the terrain during an autorotational landing about one-half mile south of Portland-Hillsboro Airport, Hillsboro, Oregon. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured, but the helicopter, which was owned and operated by Hillsboro Aviation, sustained substantial damage to its rotor system and its fuselage. The local 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal pleasure flight, which departed Portland-Hillsboro Airport about 38 minutes prior to the accident, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed. According to the pilot, who was executing a visual flight rules (VFR) approach to the airport, when he was about one mile from the helicopter landing pad, the helicopter's engine rpm suddenly began fluctuating between 60 and 100 percent. He therefore lowered the collective and rolled on the throttle, which initially seemed to help. But soon thereafter the condition resumed, with the rpm fluctuating to even lower levels, resulting in the activation of the rotor low rpm warning horn and light. Seeing that he was not going to be able to make it to the landing pad, the pilot elected to do an autorotational landing to a nearby open field. Although the helicopter initially touched down on the skids, it subsequently rolled over onto its side, and the rotating main rotor blades impacted the terrain. According to the pilot, earlier on the same day the helicopter was written up for fluctuating engine rpm, but Hillsboro Aviation maintenance personnel were unable to determine the cause of the fluctuation or to duplicate the reported problem. A post-accident inspection of the engine and the rotor control system was directed and monitored by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). As part of that process the magnetos and the engine rpm governor were sent out for further inspection and analysis. The inspection and testing process did not find any evidence of an anomaly or malfunction that would have kept the engine and rotor from producing and maintaining 100 percent rpm. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2548S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2548S-2017-05-23), registration cancelled 2017-05-23, S/N 0607 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22 BETA - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (registry code 7640110) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 0607 - Airframe hours: 6695 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Hillsboro Aviation Inc - Registered owner: Hillsboro Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 20, 2010 - Departed: KHIO, Hillsboro, OR - Destination: KHIO, Hillsboro, OR - Airport: KHIO, Portland-Hillsboro ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; injuries: none; private; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 27, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 86 total, 86 in this make and model, 21 as pilot in command, 33 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 68 °F - Altimeter: 29.17 inHg ## 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 20100618035039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100618035039A), Jun 18, 2010: Robinson He R22 BETA, Hillsboro, OR, Substantial damage. During approach to landing at the Hillsboro Airport (hio) the pilot noticed engine and rotor fluctuating instrument indications. The pilot heard the low rotor… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 8, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76356. 744 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 702 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40339020&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation (item 2, .PDF, 42 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40339090&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. --- 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.