# NTSB WPR22LA168: Robinson Helicopter R44 II, N41339, Folsom, NM, April 28, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: April 28, 2022, 15:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Folsom, NM
- Coordinates: 36.91092, -103.64784
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9109&lon=-103.6478&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 105019
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA168
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105019/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105019
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA168

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed and rotor rpm which resulted in a hard landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)

## 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 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 12365
- Year built: 2008
- Airframe hours: 834
- Engines: 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.

- Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; 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

## 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 20220428008689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220428008689A), Apr 28, 2022: Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, Folsom, NM, Substantial damage. While beginning an aerial application, the pilot departed a truck landing pad into a 8 to 10 knot wind. The pilot made a turn away from the head wind while at…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 20, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105019. 2.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13840714&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1%20WPR22LA168%20(1)_Redactedflat-Rel.pdf
- Damage photo (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 359 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14406310&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Damage%20Photo-Rel.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.

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