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Location:
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Beardsley, Minnesota
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Accident Number:
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CEN22LA404
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Date & Time:
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August 30, 2022, 15:30 Local
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Registration:
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N7048C
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Aircraft:
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ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44
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Aircraft Damage:
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Substantial
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Defining Event:
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Hard landing
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Injuries:
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4 Minor
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Flight Conducted Under:
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Part 91: General aviation - Business
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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
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Factual Information
History of Flight
Landing Hard landing (Defining event)
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Pilot Information
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Certificate:
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Commercial
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Age:
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41,Male
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Airplane Rating(s):
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None
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Seat Occupied:
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Right
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Other Aircraft Rating(s):
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Helicopter
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Restraint Used:
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3-point
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Instrument Rating(s):
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None
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Second Pilot Present:
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No
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Instructor Rating(s):
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None
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Toxicology Performed:
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Yes
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Medical Certification:
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Class 2 With waivers/limitations
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Last FAA Medical Exam:
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August 11, 2022
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Occupational Pilot:
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Yes
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Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
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January 22, 2022
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Flight Time:
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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)
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Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
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Aircraft Make:
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ROBINSON HELICOPTER
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Registration:
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N7048C
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Model/Series:
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R44
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Aircraft Category:
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Helicopter
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Year of Manufacture:
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1998
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Amateur Built:
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|
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Airworthiness Certificate:
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Normal
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Serial Number:
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0531
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Landing Gear Type:
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Skid
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Seats:
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4
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Date/Type of Last Inspection:
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July 15, 2022 100 hour
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Certified Max Gross Wt.:
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2400 lbs
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Time Since Last Inspection:
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Engines:
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1 Reciprocating
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Airframe Total Time:
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3474.7 Hrs at time of accident
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Engine Manufacturer:
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Lycoming
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ELT:
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Not installed
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Engine Model/Series:
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O-540-F1B5
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Registered Owner:
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Rated Power:
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250
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Operator:
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Operating Certificate(s) Held:
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None
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Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
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Conditions at Accident Site:
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Visual (VMC)
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Condition of Light:
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Day
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Observation Facility, Elevation:
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AQP,1021 ft msl
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Distance from Accident Site:
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37 Nautical Miles
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Observation Time:
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15:33 Local
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Direction from Accident Site:
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133°
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Lowest Cloud Condition:
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Scattered / 9000 ft AGL
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Visibility
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10 miles
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Lowest Ceiling:
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None
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Visibility (RVR):
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|
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Wind Speed/Gusts:
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8 knots / 14 knots
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Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:
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/
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Wind Direction:
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349°
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Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
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/
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Altimeter Setting:
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30.07 inches Hg
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Temperature/Dew Point:
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28°C / 8°C
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Precipitation and Obscuration:
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No Obscuration; No Precipitation
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Departure Point:
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Beardsley, MN
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Type of Flight Plan Filed:
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None
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Destination:
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Beardsley, MN
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Type of Clearance:
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None
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Departure Time:
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Type of Airspace:
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Class G
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Wreckage and Impact Information
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Crew Injuries:
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1 Minor
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Aircraft Damage:
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Substantial
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Passenger Injuries:
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3 Minor
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Aircraft Fire:
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None
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Ground Injuries:
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Aircraft Explosion:
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None
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Total Injuries:
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4 Minor
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Latitude, Longitude:
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45.5583,-96.7123(est)
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Administrative Information
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Investigator In Charge (IIC):
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Gallo, Mitchell
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Additional Participating Persons:
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Gary Kwasniewski; Federal Aviation Administration, Fargo FSDO; Fargo, ND
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Original Publish Date:
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February 9, 2023 Investigation Class: 4
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Note:
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The NTSB did not travel to the scene of this accident.
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Investigation Docket:
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https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105846
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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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