- Date
- March 7, 2012, 17:05 local (Mar 8, 2012, 01:05 UTC)
- Place
- Randle, WA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N54BARobinson Helicopter R22 Beta
- Defining event
- Landing: Collision during takeoff/land
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 15, 2012
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20120307002609A
- Case key
- 82969
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 exceeded the helicopter's performance, resulting in low rotor rpm and settling.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The certified flight instructor (CFI) was preparing the flying pilot for his commercial helicopter check flight. They were practicing pinnacle and confined-area landings to a small elevated U.S. Forest Service landing platform located along a 4,750-foot mean sea level (msl) ridgeline. The helicopter performance tables indicated a maximum out-of-ground-effect hover altitude of 6,000 feet msl, based on helicopter weight and environmental conditions. The pilot made a very shallow approach to the landing platform and established a hover. At this time, the engine manifold pressure increased, and the low rotor rpm horn sounded. The helicopter settled onto the landing platform, and the flying pilot said to the CFI that the landing skid on his side was not on the platform. He maneuvered the helicopter forward off the platform and downslope. The low rotor rpm horn stopped sounding, and the helicopter increased its forward speed but did not increase its altitude. The right skid caught some snow, and the helicopter flipped over. The helicopter came to rest facing uphill on its left side with damage to the tailboom and main rotor blades. The CFI stated that the helicopter had no mechanical malfunctions or failures during the flight.
Factual narrative
The certified flight instructor (CFI) was preparing the flying pilot for his commercial helicopter check flight. They were practicing pinnacle and confined area landings to a small elevated Forrest Service landing platform located along a 4,750-foot mean sea level (msl) ridge line. The helicopter performance tables indicated, based on helicopter weight and environmental conditions, a maximum out of ground effect hover altitude of 6,000 feet msl. The pilot made a very shallow approach to the landing platform, and established a hover. At this time the engine manifold pressure increased, and the low rotor rpm horn sounded. The helicopter settled onto the landing platform and the flying pilot said to the CFI that the landing skid on his side was not on the platform. He maneuvered the helicopter forward off the platform, and downslope. The low rotor rpm horn stopped sounding, and the helicopter increased forward speed but did not increase in altitude. The right skid caught some snow and the helicopter flipped over. The helicopter came to rest facing uphill on it's left side with damage to the tail boom and main rotor blades. The CFI stated that the helicopter had no mechanical malfunctions or failures during the flight.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N54BA
- Reported as
- Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 1888
- Airframe hours
- 5,640
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320 SERIES, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Glacier Aviation
- Registered owner
- Carter Richard K
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · December 13, 2011
- Departed
- KN55 · Randle, WA
- Destination
- KN55 · Randle, WA
- Flight plan
- Unknown
- Airport
- KN55 · Randal-Kiona
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 · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Flight instructor
- Age
- 47
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- August 1, 2011
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 975 total · 569 in this make and model
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 38
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 158 total · 142 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 340° at 3 knots
- Temperature
- 46 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.43 inHg
- Observed at
- KPLU, 37 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 4, 2012, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 822 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N54BA · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.