Robinson R22 BETA N334DC

Summary

On 18 June 2011 at about 18:30 local time, a Robinson R22 BETA registered N334DC, operated by Guidance Helicopters Inc, was involved in an accident near Prescott, Arizona, 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

18 June 2011 at 18:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Prescott, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Ernest H Love Field (KPRC)

Coordinates

34.4894, -112.4197

Aircraft

Robinson R22 BETA

Registration

N334DC

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Guidance Helicopters Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Prescott → Prescott

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR11CA264

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions and failure to maintain directional control of the helicopter during taxi, resulting in a loss of tail rotor effectiveness and a subsequent hard landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The instructor reported that his student was taxiing the helicopter in a north direction along a taxiway parallel to the runway with a near direct tailwind of 10 knots with gusts to 19. The student started to lose tail rotor authority over the helicopter. At this time the instructor took control of the helicopter and proceeded to apply full left pedal until he regained tail rotor authority and directional control. Because of the strong wind from the south, the instructor opted to keep control of the helicopter until they were airborne and he proceeded to continue their taxi to the displaced threshold of the runway. Upon reaching the displaced threshold, the instructor started a 220 degree turn to the left in order to line up with a takeoff direction to the south into the wind. The instructor reported that half way through the turn the helicopter violently yawed to the left, and he applied full right pedal to cancel the yaw but was unable to arrest the helicopter's left yawing moment. The helicopter landed hard on the skids, damaging the main rotor and severing the tail boom aft of the tail rotor blades hazard guard and before the tail rotor transmission. The pilot reported no mechanical issues with the helicopter prior to the flight. The wind limitation listed in the Pilot's Operating Handbook for the helicopter is 25 knots including any gust factor.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.