Robinson R22 BETA II N7521P

Summary

On 27 April 2004 at about 21:00 local time, a Robinson R22 BETA II registered N7521P was involved in an accident near Squaw Valley, California, 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

27 April 2004 at 21:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Squaw Valley, California, United States

Coordinates

36.6408, -119.2892

Aircraft

Robinson R22 BETA II

Registration

N7521P

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Truckee → Truckee

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX04CA198

Nobody was injured.

the pilot's failure to maintain a proper descent rate during the landing approach, which resulted in a hard landing and roll over. Also causal was the pilot's inadequate compensation for tailwind conditions. A factor in the accident was the high density altitude.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The helicopter experienced a hard landing and rolled over. The flight departed for a proposed 20-minute tour with the helicopter's gross weight about 1,240 pounds. While en route, the pilot opted to land in an area of flat terrain. During the landing sequence, he slowed the helicopter, and it began to descend. The descent continued and the helicopter landed hard. The helicopter rolled over and the pilot and passenger egressed. After exiting the helicopter, the pilot noted surface wind from the west, which was consistent with a tailwind. The pilot stated that the combination of tailwind conditions and high altitude equated to an undesirable landing environment. He thought that the helicopter's descent rate was "too high" for the conditions. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. After the accident the California Highway Patrol helicopter air unit landed at the accident site to determine if the occupants were injured. An officer noted that the elevation at the accident site was 8,359 feet and the outside air temperature was about 71 degrees Fahrenheit. Based on the officer's observations, the density altitude was computed to be about 11,000 feet.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.