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NTSB Final Report: Beardsley, MN

Location:

Beardsley, Minnesota

Accident Number:

CEN22LA404

Date & Time:

August 30, 2022, 15:30 Local

Registration:

N7048C

Aircraft:

ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44

Aircraft Damage:

Substantial

Defining Event:

Hard landing

Injuries:

4 Minor

Flight Conducted Under:

Part 91: General aviation - Business

 

 

Analysis

The pilot of the air tour flight reported that he was performing a pedal turn to put the nose of the helicopter into the wind for landing when he overshot the turn with the tail. The pilot tried to correct by performing another rotation, but the low rotor rpm light illuminated, and the low rpm horn sounded. The pilot attempted to lower the collective to regain forward airspeed, but the helicopter landed hard on the skids, bounced, and rolled over onto its left side. A witness reported that the helicopter approached from the north and entered a spiral descent before “it went down” from an altitude of about 80-100 ft. above ground level. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, main rotor blades, and tail rotor blades. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal helicopter operation.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be: The pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control during the approach to land that resulted in an excessive descent rate and impact with terrain.

Findings

Aircraft - Descent rate - Not attained/maintained

Personnel issues - (general) - Pilot


Factual Information

History of Flight

Landing                                                Hard landing (Defining event)

Pilot Information

Certificate:

Commercial

Age:

41,Male

Airplane Rating(s):

None

Seat Occupied:

Right

Other Aircraft Rating(s):

Helicopter

Restraint Used:

3-point

Instrument Rating(s):

None

Second Pilot Present:

No

Instructor Rating(s):

None

Toxicology Performed:

Yes

Medical Certification:

Class 2 With waivers/limitations

Last FAA Medical Exam:

August 11, 2022

Occupational Pilot:

Yes

Last Flight Review or Equivalent:

January 22, 2022

Flight Time:

792 hours (Total, all aircraft), 504 hours (Total, this make and model), 648 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 105 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 26 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft)

 Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make:

ROBINSON HELICOPTER

Registration:

N7048C

Model/Series:

R44

Aircraft Category:

Helicopter

Year of Manufacture:

1998

Amateur Built:

 

Airworthiness Certificate:

Normal

Serial Number:

0531

Landing Gear Type:

Skid

Seats:

4

Date/Type of Last Inspection:

July 15, 2022 100 hour

Certified Max Gross Wt.:

2400 lbs

Time Since Last Inspection:

 

Engines:

1 Reciprocating

Airframe Total Time:

3474.7 Hrs at time of accident

Engine Manufacturer:

Lycoming

ELT:

Not installed

Engine Model/Series:

O-540-F1B5

Registered Owner:

 

Rated Power:

250

Operator:

 

Operating Certificate(s) Held:

None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site:

Visual (VMC)

Condition of Light:

Day

Observation Facility, Elevation:

AQP,1021 ft msl

Distance from Accident Site:

37 Nautical Miles

Observation Time:

15:33 Local

Direction from Accident Site:

133°

Lowest Cloud Condition:

Scattered / 9000 ft AGL

Visibility

10 miles

Lowest Ceiling:

None

Visibility (RVR):

 

Wind Speed/Gusts:

8 knots / 14 knots

Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:

/

Wind Direction:

349°

Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:

/

Altimeter Setting:

30.07 inches Hg

Temperature/Dew Point:

28°C / 8°C

Precipitation and Obscuration:

No Obscuration; No Precipitation

 

Departure Point:

Beardsley, MN

Type of Flight Plan Filed:

None

Destination:

Beardsley, MN

Type of Clearance:

None

Departure Time:

Type of Airspace:

Class G

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries:

1 Minor

Aircraft Damage:

Substantial

Passenger Injuries:

3 Minor

Aircraft Fire:

None

Ground Injuries:

 

Aircraft Explosion:

None

Total Injuries:

4 Minor

Latitude, Longitude:

45.5583,-96.7123(est)

Administrative Information

Investigator In Charge (IIC):

Gallo, Mitchell

Additional Participating Persons:

Gary Kwasniewski; Federal Aviation Administration, Fargo FSDO; Fargo, ND

Original Publish Date:

February 9, 2023                                                    Investigation Class:     4

Note:

The NTSB did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Investigation Docket:

https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105846

 

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), established in 1967, is an independent federal agency mandated by Congress through the Independent Safety Board Act of 1974 to investigate transportation accidents, determine the probable causes of the accidents, issue safety recommendations, study transportation safety issues, and evaluate the safety effectiveness of government agencies involved in transportation. The NTSB makes public its actions and decisions through accident reports, safety studies, special investigation reports, safety recommendations, and statistical reviews.

 

The Independent Safety Board Act, as codified at 49 U.S.C. Section 1154(b), precludes the admission into evidence or use of any part of an NTSB report related to an incident or accident in a civil action for damages resulting from a matter mentioned in the report. A factual report that may be admissible under 49 U.S.C. § 1154(b) is available here.

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