Robinson R22 BETA N215WW

Summary

On 8 May 2004 at about 17:45 local time, a Robinson R22 BETA registered N215WW was involved in an accident near Genesee Depot, Wisconsin, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 May 2004 at 17:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Genesee Depot, Wisconsin, United States

Coordinates

42.9650, -88.3917

Aircraft

Robinson R22 BETA

Registration

N215WW

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Dousman → East Troy

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI04CA116

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain proper rotor RPM during the hover landing and his inadequate remedial action, which resulted in the hard landing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The helicopter landed hard following a loss of rotor rpm during the landing attempt. The pilot stated that during the landing attempt, approximately 20 feet above ground level, the low rotor RPM horn sounded along with the corresponding warning light. The pilot reported the helicopter "settled rapidly" as he lowered the collective and increased the throttle. The pilot stated that the helicopter was too low for a successful recovery and impacted left skid first. The pilot reported "It may have been possible that I delayed throttle governor by initially holding throttle/collective control too tightly." The pilot also stated that the accident could have been prevented by "closer observation of [the] main rotor RPM."

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.