Robinson R22 BETA N2330F
27 January 2000 · Sarita, Texas, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 27 January 2000 at about 14:45 local time, a Robinson R22 BETA registered N2330F, operated by Mesquite Helicopter Sevice, was involved in an accident near Sarita, Texas, 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.
The record
- Date
- at 14:45
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Sarita, Texas, United States
- Coordinates
- 27.2102, -97.8002
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 BETA
- Registration
- N2330F
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Mesquite Helicopter Sevice
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Other Work Use
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Kennedy Ranch → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- FTW00LA077
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Probable cause
The failure of the pilot to maintain main rotor rpm, which resulted in a hard landing.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The helicopter's mission was to harvest Nilgai antelope. After the passenger shot a second Nilgai antelope, the pilot maneuvered the helicopter downwind at 50 knots and 70 feet agl, to lead the animal recovery vehicle to where the first antelope had fallen. The pilot executed a right turn to come to a hover over the antelope. As he started a 'quick-stop, the engine began to lug down.' He 'rolled on the throttle, overriding the governor, and nosed [the helicopter] over while lowering the collective.' The main rotor low rpm warning sounded about the time he applied forward cyclic. The helicopter was 'gaining airspeed but the rpm kept declining.' The pilot 'milked' the collective; however, he was unable to regain rotor rpm. At about 3-5 feet agl, the rotor rpm was at 80 percent. The pilot leveled the helicopter and attempted a run-on landing. The helicopter landed hard, and a main rotor blade struck the tail boom, separating it at mid-length.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Robinson R22 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Jun 2000 | Robinson R22 BETA | Indiantown, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 27 Apr 2000 | Robinson R22 BETA | San Diego, California, United States | Marcus Phares | Fatal | 1 |
| 19 Aug 2000 | Robinson R22 BETA | Watsonville, California, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 3 Oct 2000 | Robinson R22 BETA | Long Beach, California, United States | Helistream, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 11 Dec 2000 | Robinson R22 | Marathon, Florida, United States | Volar Helicopters Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 14 Dec 2000 | Robinson R22 BETA | North Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | West Air Helicopters | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Jul 2000 | Schweizer G-164B | Moscow, Texas, United States | Paynes Flying Service, Inc. | Serious injuries | - |
| 30 May 2000 | Air Tractor AT-301 | Garwood, Texas, United States | Michael Thompson | Minor injuries | - |
| 19 Apr 2000 | Mooney M20F | Tomball, Texas, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 12 Apr 2000 | Piper PA-32R-301 | Rocksprings, Texas, United States | Ivan B. Greenhut | No injuries | - |
| 16 Sep 2000 | Cessna 185F | Burnet, Texas, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 26 Feb 2000 | Piper PA-18 | New Ulm, Texas, United States | Leonard F. Firth | Minor injuries | - |