Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Las Vegas, Nevada
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:
Oho Cattle Company Inc
Location: Pioche, Nevada
Accident Number: WPR20CA197
Date & Time: June 26, 2020, 17:45 Local
Registration: N7530B
Aircraft: Robinson R44
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Other weather encounter
Injuries: 3 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
Analysis
The pilot of the helicopter was flying over mountainous terrain, about 500 ft agl, with moderate wind and turbulence conditions. After he slowed the helicopter to 60-70 knots it suddenly and uncontrollably descended at a rapid rate in a severe downdraft. The pilot maneuvered toward lower terrain to accelerate but was unable to arrest the descent before the helicopter collided with the ground tail first. The helicopter fuselage was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident malfunctions or failures 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 failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during an aborted landing, which resulted in a ground loop, runway excursion, and subsequent nose over.
Findings
Personnel issues Aircraft control - Pilot
Aircraft Altitude - Not attained/maintained
Environmental issues Downdraft - Effect on operation
Factual Information
History of Flight
Maneuvering-low-alt flying Other weather encounter (Defining event)
Maneuvering-low-alt flying Loss of control in flight
Uncontrolled descent Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)
Pilot Information
Certificate: Commercial; Private
Age: 49,Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land; Multi-engine land; helicopter
Seat Occupied: Right
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 3-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 2 With waivers/limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: June 1, 2020
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: July 21, 2019
Flight Time: 3914.3 hours (Total, all aircraft), 716 hours (Total, this make and model), 3542 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 40.5 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 28 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 7 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
Passenger Information
Certificate: Age:
Airplane Rating(s):
Seat Occupied: Right
Other Aircraft Rating(s):
Restraint Used: 3-point
Instrument Rating(s):
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s):
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification:
Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot:
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time:
Passenger Information
Certificate: Age:
Airplane Rating(s):
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s):
Restraint Used: 3-point
Instrument Rating(s):
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s):
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification:
Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot:
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time:
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Robinson
Registration: N7530B
Model/Series: R44 II
Aircraft Category: Helicopter
Year of Manufacture: 2004
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 10390
Landing Gear Type: N/A; Skid
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: July 21, 2019 Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2500 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 3421.3 Hrs at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: LYCOMING
ELT: C126 installed, activated, aided in locating accident
Engine Model/Series: IO-540-AE1A5
Registered Owner:
Rated Power:
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC)
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KSGU
Distance from Accident Site: 62 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 15:00 Local
Direction from Accident Site: 136°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility:
Lowest Ceiling: Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 12 knots / 20 knots
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction: 270°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 29.87 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 27°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Panaca, NV (1L1)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: CALIENTE FLIGHT STRIP, NV (OL2)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 16:15 Local
Type of Airspace: Unknown
Wreckage and Impact Information
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: 37.981109,-114.604721
Having some trouble here with the NTSB probable cause: "The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during an aborted landing, which resulted in a ground loop, runway excursion, and subsequent nose over."
ReplyDeleteMaybe an analyst pulled up the wrong boilerplate text when they wrote the report, which I'm sure was somewhat rushed because it only took a year to come up with a bogus probable cause.