Robinson R22 BETA N57UP

Summary

On 5 August 2008 at about 16:15 local time, a Robinson R22 BETA registered N57UP, operated by Strategic Air, LLC., was involved in an accident near Buffalo, North Dakota, United States. One person was 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

5 August 2008 at 16:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Buffalo, North Dakota, United States

Coordinates

46.9264, -97.5353

Aircraft

Robinson R22 BETA

Registration

N57UP

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Strategic Air, LLC.

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Buffalo → Buffalo

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI08CA238

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's excessive descent rate and his failure to maintain clearance from terrain during the spray run entry.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that after passing over power lines, he performed a steep descent toward the field he was spraying. The helicopter had a "high descent rate and excessive nose down attitude" during the spray run entry. The pilot was unable to arrest the descent before the main rotor speed dropped below a safe operating speed. A run-on landing was made in the field at about 30 mph, but the helicopter pitched forward and the main rotor impacted terrain. The main rotor, tailboom, fuselage, and landing skids were damaged. The pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented if he had performed a "less aggressive spray run entry."

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.