Robinson R-22 BETA N4000Y

Summary

On 17 June 2008 at about 01:30 local time, a Robinson R-22 BETA registered N4000Y was involved in an accident near Philomath, Oregon, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 June 2008 at 01:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Philomath, Oregon, United States

Coordinates

44.5039, -123.5514

Aircraft

Robinson R-22 BETA

Registration

N4000Y

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Corvallis → Troutdale

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX08CA185

2 people had minor injuries.

The student pilot's failure to maintain rotor rpm during a pinnacle approach and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action and inadequate supervision of the flight. Contributing to the accident was the downdraft weather condition.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight instructor reported that he was flying an instructional cross-country flight with a student. They stopped for fuel at an airport near sea level and were returning to their home base. When they departed, the wind was from 300 degrees at 16 knots, gusting to 20 knots. They decided to do a pinnacle landing to a 4,060-foot mountain. As the student approached the peak for landing, a downdraft was encountered. The main rotor disk low rpm indicators activated, and the flight instructor took the controls and attempted to salvage the situation. The helicopter's landing skid impacted terrain, and the aircraft rolled twice down the mountain. The flight instructor and student exited with minor injuries.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.