Robinson R22 N4038M

Summary

On 22 February 2006 at about 14:45 local time, a Robinson R22 registered N4038M, operated by Barbara J. Doty, was involved in an accident near Anchorage, Alaska, United States. One person was 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

22 February 2006 at 14:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

Merrill Field (MRI)

Coordinates

61.2136, -149.8445

Aircraft

Robinson R22

Registration

N4038M

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Barbara J. Doty

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Wasilla → Anchorage

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC06CA031

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's decision to land the helicopter on an icy airport parking ramp, which resulted in a loss of control on touchdown, and subsequent collision with another parked and unoccupied helicopter.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot had completed a short cross-country Title 14, CFR Part 91 personal flight and was landing her helicopter at a designated helicopter parking area at a tower controlled airport. She stated that she made two passes over the proposed landing area, and noted that it looked very icy and slick. She did not see any other suitable landing area in the immediate vicinity, and elected to land about 50 feet from another helicopter. Upon landing, she said her helicopter began to slide on the icy surface, skidding in a circular fashion towards a parked and unoccupied helicopter. Her helicopter collided with the parked helicopter before she could stop the main rotor blades, resulting in substantial damage to her helicopter's main rotor blades.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.