Tuesday, July 02, 2019

System / Components Malfunction / Failure (Non-Power): Robinson R22 Beta, N26498; accident occurred June 28, 2019 in Danbury, Brazoria County, Texas

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity:

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Houston, Texas

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


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

https://registry.faa.gov/N26498

Location: Danbury, TX 
Accident Number: CEN19LA187
Date & Time: 06/28/2019, 1132 CDT
Registration: N26498
Aircraft: Robinson R22
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 137: Agricultural 

On June 28, 2019 at 1132 Central Daylight Time, a Robinson R-22 Beta helicopter, N26498, impacted terrain near Danbury, Texas. The commercial pilot was not injured. The helicopter was substantially damaged. The helicopter was registered to a corporation and operated as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 pollination flight. Visual meteorological conditions were reported at the accident site and along the route of flight about the time of the accident.

The pilot reported to the FAA he was conducting pollination activities when the "clutch" light illuminated and would not go out and he began to loose power, so he "set it down" in the field. He pilot told the mechanic selected to repair the helicopter that he was flying low over the agricultural field when the "GOV" (governor) caution light illuminated, followed by the "clutch light" illuminating. He felt the helicopter began to lose rotor speed and responded by rolling the engine power. He landed the helicopter vertically and did not split the skids; however, the main rotor speed decayed sufficiently enough that a main rotor blade drooped and struck the tail cone, substantially damaging the helicopter.

The mechanic reported that during an examination of the helicopter the "actuator" engaged and disengaged normally, the drive belts were in good condition, and the clutch rotated normally. The governor light remained illuminated regardless of the switch position. He traced the light to a faulty electrical relay that caused the light to illuminate, and stated the faulty relay would only cause the light to come on and would not affect the governor operation. He verified the governor operated normally when electrical power was applied. No other anomalies were found with the helicopter.

Pilot Information

Certificate: Commercial
Age: 37, Male
Airplane Rating(s): None
Seat Occupied: Unknown
Other Aircraft Rating(s): Helicopter
Restraint Used: Unknown
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 2 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 06/03/2019
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 01/23/2019
Flight Time:  1100 hours (Total, all aircraft), 850 hours (Total, this make and model), 100 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Robinson
Registration: N26498
Model/Series: R22 BETA
Aircraft Category: Helicopter
Year of Manufacture:
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 0836
Landing Gear Type: Skid;
Seats:
Date/Type of Last Inspection:
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1369 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time:
Engine Manufacturer: Lycoming
ELT:
Engine Model/Series: O-320 SERIES
Registered Owner: Hartland Helicopters Llc
Rated Power:
Operator: Standard Aviation Svcs
Operating Certificate(s) Held: Agricultural Aircraft (137)

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation:
Distance from Accident Site:
Observation Time:
Direction from Accident Site:
Lowest Cloud Condition:
Visibility:  
Lowest Ceiling:
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts:
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:
Wind Direction:
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
Altimeter Setting:
Temperature/Dew Point:
Precipitation and Obscuration:
Departure Point:
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination:
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time:
Type of Airspace:

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None

Latitude, Longitude: 29.232778, -95.251944 (est)

Location: Danbury, TX
Accident Number: CEN19LA187
Date & Time: 06/28/2019, 1132 CDT
Registration: N26498
Aircraft: Robinson R22
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 137: Agricultural 

On June 28, 2019 at 1132 Central Daylight Time, a Robinson R-22 Beta helicopter, N26498, conducted an emergency landing near Danbury, Texas, following a clutch malfunction. The commercial pilot was not injured. The helicopter was substantially damaged. The helicopter was registered to a corporation and operated as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions were reported at the accident site and along the route of flight about the time of the accident.

The pilot reported he was conducting aerial application operations when the "clutch light" illuminated and the helicopter began to lose power. He landed the helicopter vertically and did not split the skids; however, the main rotor speed decayed sufficiently enough that a main rotor blade drooped and struck the tail cone, substantially damaging the helicopter.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Robinson
Registration: N26498
Model/Series: R22 BETA
Aircraft Category: Helicopter
Amateur Built: No
Operator:
Operating Certificate(s) Held: Agricultural Aircraft (137)

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site:
Condition of Light:
Observation Facility, Elevation:
Observation Time:
Distance from Accident Site:
Temperature/Dew Point:
Lowest Cloud Condition:
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction:
Lowest Ceiling:
Visibility:  
Altimeter Setting:
Type of Flight Plan Filed:
Departure Point:
Destination:

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire:None 
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude:

1 comment:

  1. It seems like a Robinson accident or two show up every week.

    ReplyDelete