Thursday, October 31, 2019

Hard Landing: Robinson R66, N661CG; accident occurred October 28, 2019 in Alexandria, Rapides Parish, Louisiana




Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Baton Rouge, Louisiana 

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

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

Location: Alexandria, LA
Accident Number: GAA20CA052
Date & Time: 10/28/2019, 1945 CDT
Registration: N661CG
Aircraft: Robinson R66
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Hard landing
Injuries: 3 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal

Analysis 

The pilot reported that he had departed in the helicopter from a local field at night under visual flight rules conditions. He reported that the weather was good, that he climbed the helicopter to 1,400 ft mean sea level for the 4-mile flight, and that he began the descent about 1 mile from the destination. He reported that he had "noticed and was consumed w/Engine & Rotor RPM, in the Yellow." During the approach, the helicopter stopped moving forward and began moving backward. The helicopter landed hard in a level attitude on the grass. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main and tail rotor drive systems and the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot's fixation on the instrument panel, which resulted in a hard landing.

Findings

Personnel issues
Aircraft control - Pilot (Cause)
Attention - Pilot (Cause)

Factual Information

History of Flight

Landing
Hard landing (Defining event) 

Pilot Information

Certificate: Commercial
Age: 65, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Right
Other Aircraft Rating(s): Helicopter
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 2 Without Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 02/26/2018
Occupational Pilot:No 
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 09/21/2019
Flight Time:   (Estimated) 1818 hours (Total, all aircraft), 1465 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 7 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 3 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Robinson
Registration: N661CG
Model/Series: R66 No Series
Aircraft Category: Helicopter
Year of Manufacture: 2011
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 0057
Landing Gear Type: Skid
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection:  Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2700 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Turbo Shaft
Airframe Total Time: 944 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: Rolls Royce
ELT: Installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: RR300/A1
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: hp
Operator:On file 
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Instrument Conditions
Condition of Light: Night
Observation Facility, Elevation: KAEX, 89 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 4 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 0053 UTC
Direction from Accident Site: 284°
Lowest Cloud Condition:
Visibility:   10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: Overcast / 1400 ft agl
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 7 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:
Wind Direction: 90°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
Altimeter Setting: 30.01 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 15°C / 12°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Alexandria, LA
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Alexandria, LA
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1940 CDT
Type of Airspace: Class G

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 2 None
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 3 None
Latitude, Longitude: 31.238333, -92.437778 (est)

1 comment:

  1. I wonder what happened? Just crashed in the field?

    ReplyDelete