# NTSB WPR13CA155: Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta, N223G, Chino Valley, AZ, March 18, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 17, 2013, 17:00 local (Mar 18, 2013, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Chino Valley, AZ - Coordinates: 34.852222, -112.413887 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8522&lon=-112.4139&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 18, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 86461 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR13CA155 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86461/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86461 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA155 ## Probable cause The pilot receiving instruction’s failure to maintain rotor rpm during the pinnacle landing. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: prop/rotor parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 182 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis During descent for an off-airport pinnacle landing, the helicopter encountered a downdraft about 75 to 100 feet above ground level (agl), and the pilot receiving instruction increased collective input. The flight instructor advised the pilot receiving instruction to be less aggressive using the collective as the flight continued to the landing area. As the helicopter descended through about 10 to 25 feet agl, it encountered a second downdraft, and the pilot receiving instruction increased collective again, which was followed by a decrease in rotor rpm. The flight instructor took control of the helicopter as it contacted the ground and then became airborne again. The helicopter yawed to the right and landed upright on sloping terrain. Postaccident examination of the helicopter revealed that the tailboom was substantially damaged just aft of the fuselage attach point. The pilots reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative During a descent for an off airport pinnacle landing, the helicopter encountered a downdraft about 75 to 100 feet above ground level (agl), and the pilot receiving instruction, increased collective. The flight instructor instructed the pilot receiving instruction to be less aggressive using the collective as the flight continued the descent to the landing area. As the helicopter descended through about 10 to 25 feet agl, it encountered a second downdraft and the pilot receiving instruction increased collective followed by a decrease in rotor RPM. Subsequently, the flight instructor took control of the helicopter as it contacted the ground and then became airborne again. The helicopter yawned to the right, and landed upright on sloping terrain. Post flight examination of the helicopter revealed that the tailboom was structurally damaged just aft of the fuselage attach point. The pilots reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: N223G (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22 BETA - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 3211 - Airframe hours: 7899 - Engines: LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Guidance Helicopters Inc - Registered owner: Guidance Helicopters Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, February 25, 2013, 52 hours before - Departed: PRC, Prescott, AZ - Destination: PRC, Prescott, AZ ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 28; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 19, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 1,029 total, 687 in this make and model, 981 as pilot in command, 166 in the last 90 days, 74 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 29; injuries: none; private; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 6, 2012; seat: right; flight hours: 175 total, 145 in this make and model, 98 as pilot in command, 49 in the last 90 days, 39 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 17 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point -6 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: PRC, 13 nm away ## 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 20130317004719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130317004719A), Mar 17, 2013: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, Chino Valley, AZ, Substantial damage. From the limitations section model R22 rotorcraft flight manual: flight when surface winds exceed 25 knots, including gusts, is prohibited unless the pilot… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 19, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86461. 3.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40390142&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1: View of the tailboom. Courest of Guidance Helicopters. (item 2, .PDF, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40390145&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20View%20of%20the%20tailboom.%20%20Courest%20of%20Guidance%20Helicopters.-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.