- Date
- April 28, 2022, 15:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place
- Folsom, NM
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N41339Robinson Helicopter R44 II
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20220428008689A
- Case key
- 105019
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 airspeed and rotor rpm which resulted in a hard landing.
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 after departing from a loading truck for the aerial application flight, he turned into the wind, then initiated a right downwind turn. The helicopter lost airspeed and rotor rpm so the pilot lowered collective and the helicopter settled to the ground resulting in a hard landing. The tailboom and main rotor were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N41339
- Reported as
- Robinson Helicopter R44 II
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 12365
- Built
- 2008
- Airframe hours
- 834
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-540 AEIA5, 305 hp, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- HELI AG LLC (Ray Griffith)
- Registered owner
- HELI AG LLC (Ray Griffith)
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · November 15, 2021
- Destination
- Same as departure
- Airport
- N/A · None
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 50
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- February 21, 2022
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 4,673 total · 1,500 in this make and model · 40 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 8 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 80 °F, dew point 10 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.10 inHg
- Observed at
- KRTN, 45 nm away
- METAR
- +5: KRTN 281653Z AUTO VRB04KT 10SM CLR 21/M09 A2995 RMK AO2 SLP069 T02061094 +6: KRTN 281753Z AUTO 16010G17KT 10SM CLR 23/M10 A2993 RMK AO2 SLP061 T02281100 10228 20011 58015
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 20, 2022, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.2 MB 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.