- Date
- December 11, 2012, 09:20 local (16:20 UTC)
- Place
- Rawlins, WY
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N4073QRobinson Helicopter R22 Beta
- Defining event
- Landing: Hard landing
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 3, 2013
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- FAA FSDO
- FAA report
- 20121211027629A
- Case key
- 85788
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's failure to maintain main rotor rpm during takeoff, which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent rollover.
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 pilot reported that he was conducting a high density altitude takeoff in the single-engine helicopter in gusting wind conditions. He reported that while accelerating to best rate of climb speed, the main rotor low rpm horn sounded at 97 percent, and he unsuccessfully attempted to increase the main rotor rpm back to 102 percent. The pilot aborted the takeoff and sought a landing site near the departure end of the runway; the helicopter subsequently touched down at a high rate of descent in a gravel parking lot adjacent to the airport and rolled over. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail boom assembly and main rotor blades. The pilot reported that the helicopter takeoff weight was 66 pounds below gross takeoff weight. He also reported that the accident could have been prevented by shipping all personal items not required for flight to the next low altitude airport along his route of flight. A successful takeoff should have been possible at the reported takeoff weight. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that he was conducting a high density altitude takeoff in the single-engine helicopter in gusting wind conditions. He reported that while accelerating to best rate of climb speed, the main rotor low RPM horn sounded at 97-percent and he unsuccessfully attempted to increase the main rotor RPM back to 102-percent. The pilot aborted the takeoff and sought a landing site near the departure end of the runway; the helicopter subsequently touched down at a high rate of descent in a gravel parking lot adjacent to the airport and rolled over. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail boom assembly and main rotor blades. The pilot reported that the helicopter takeoff weight was 66 pounds below gross takeoff weight. He also reported that the accident could have been prevented by shipping all personal items not required for flight to the next low altitude airport along his route of flight. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4073Q
- Reported as
- Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 1857
- Airframe hours
- 1,950
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320 SERIES, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry · Part 91
- Operator
- Smith David L Trustee
- Registered owner
- Smith David L Trustee
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 2, 2012
- Departed
- KRWL · Rawlins, WY
- Destination
- KLAR · Laramie, WY
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- KRWL · Rawlins
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
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 74
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter, Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- April 11, 2012
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 17,500 total · 3,500 in this make and model · 15,750 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 240° at 11 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 3,200 ft broken
- Temperature
- 19 °F, dew point 16 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.88 inHg
- Observed at
- RWL, 1 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 24, 2013, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 132 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.