Tuesday, October 10, 2017

Robinson R22 BETA, N878MC: Accident occurred October 05, 2017 at North Las Vegas Airport (KVGT), Clark County, Nevada

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Las Vegas, Nevada

Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms

Cass Aviation LLC: http://registry.faa.gov/N878MC

Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board

Location: Las Vegas, NV
Accident Number: GAA18CA030
Date & Time: 10/06/2017, 0720 PDT
Registration: N878MC
Aircraft: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22 BETA
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Hard landing
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Instructional

The purpose of the training flight was to practice auto rotations with power recovery.

The flight instructor reported that as the helicopter descended through about 40 ft, he instructed the student to increase the landing flare and roll on throttle for power recovery. As the helicopter continued to quickly descend to about 8 ft, they raised the collective and the flight instructor felt resistance in the collective. The rpms began to drag down and he tried rolling on the throttle to bring the rpms back up. The flight instructor reported that he believed that the student had tensed up on the throttle and collective as he tried to keep the helicopter level and cushion for the landing.

The student pilot reported that in hindsight, he was pulling up on the collective, but his hand (wrist) was locked which prevented the governor to roll on and increase power.

The helicopter subsequently landed hard, substantially damaging the fuselage.

The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. 

Flight Instructor Information

Certificate: Flight Instructor; Commercial
Age: 29, Male
Airplane Rating(s): None
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): Helicopter
Restraint Used: Unknown
Instrument Rating(s): Helicopter
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): Helicopter
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 Without Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 09/26/2016
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 10/06/2016
Flight Time: (Estimated) 935.6 hours (Total, all aircraft), 815 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 91.5 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 60 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 3 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft) 

Student Pilot Information

Certificate: Student
Age: 35, Male
Airplane Rating(s): None
Seat Occupied: Right
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: Unknown
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 2 Unknown
Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:  
Flight Time:  (Estimated) 20 hours (Total, all aircraft), 20 hours (Total, this make and model) 

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Manufacturer: ROBINSON HELICOPTER
Registration: N878MC
Model/Series: R22 BETA BETA
Aircraft Category: Helicopter
Year of Manufacture: 2005
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 3782
Landing Gear Type: Ski;
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 08/30/2017, 100 Hour
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1370 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 5259.8 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: LYCOMING
ELT: Not installed
Engine Model/Series: O-360 SERIES
Registered Owner: Matt Binner
Rated Power: 124 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: Pilot School (141) 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KVGT, 2203 ft msl
Observation Time: 1353 UTC
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Direction from Accident Site: 315°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Temperature/Dew Point: 18°C / -7°C
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility: 10 Miles
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 15 knots, 10°
Visibility (RVR):
Altimeter Setting: 30.07 inches Hg
Visibility (RVV):
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Las Vegas, NV (VGT)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Las Vegas, NV (VGT)
Type of Clearance: Unknown
Departure Time:  PDT
Type of Airspace: Class D 

Airport Information

Airport: NORTH LAS VEGAS (VGT)
Runway Surface Type: Unknown
Airport Elevation: 2205 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: N/A
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width:
VFR Approach/Landing: Simulated Forced Landing 

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 2 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None
Latitude, Longitude: 36.209444, -115.192778 (est)

1 comment:

  1. Saw tail boom on flatbed trailer in Twin Falls Idaho, dont know much else. 3/4/2023

    ReplyDelete