Robinson R22 N4066S

Summary

On 17 October 2019 at about 23:20 local time, a Robinson R22 registered N4066S, operated by California Aviation Services Inc, was involved in an accident near Overton, Nevada, 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

17 October 2019 at 23:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Overton, Nevada, United States

Coordinates

36.5100, -114.3758

Aircraft

Robinson R22

Registration

N4066S

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1990

Engines

1

Operator

California Aviation Services Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bullhead City → Overton

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA20CA035

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain a proper approach and the flight instructor's subsequent failure to maintain an adequate climb rate during an attempted go-around in gusting tailwind conditions, which resulted in a hard landing and dynamic rollover.

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 told the pilot receiving instruction in the helicopter to shoot an approach to a sandbar in a riverbed. The pilot approached to the south, and the wind was between about 20 to 25 knots from the south. About 20 ft above ground level, the instructor took the flight controls due to a steep and fast approach and initiated a go-around. He performed a climbing left turn to the north, and subsequently the helicopter descended, and he was unable to maneuver it into the wind. The helicopter landed hard, bounced, and yawed right. The helicopter contacted the ground again and rolled onto its left side. The main rotor blades struck the ground, and the tailboom separated. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tailboom. The instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.