Robinson R22 BETA N54BA

Summary

On 8 March 2012 at about 01:05 local time, a Robinson R22 BETA registered N54BA, operated by Glacier Aviation, was involved in an accident near Randle, Washington, 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

8 March 2012 at 01:05

Classification

Accident

Location

Randle, Washington, United States

Nearest airport

Randal-Kiona (KN55)

Coordinates

46.5708, -121.9744

Aircraft

Robinson R22 BETA

Registration

N54BA

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Glacier Aviation

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Randle → Randle

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR12CA117

Nobody was injured.

The pilot exceeded the helicopter's performance, resulting in low rotor rpm and settling.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The certified flight instructor (CFI) was preparing the flying pilot for his commercial helicopter check flight. They were practicing pinnacle and confined-area landings to a small elevated U.S. Forest Service landing platform located along a 4,750-foot mean sea level (msl) ridgeline. The helicopter performance tables indicated a maximum out-of-ground-effect hover altitude of 6,000 feet msl, based on helicopter weight and environmental conditions. The pilot made a very shallow approach to the landing platform and established a hover. At this time, the engine manifold pressure increased, and the low rotor rpm horn sounded. The helicopter settled onto the landing platform, and the flying pilot said to the CFI that the landing skid on his side was not on the platform. He maneuvered the helicopter forward off the platform and downslope. The low rotor rpm horn stopped sounding, and the helicopter increased its forward speed but did not increase its altitude. The right skid caught some snow, and the helicopter flipped over. The helicopter came to rest facing uphill on its left side with damage to the tailboom and main rotor blades. The CFI stated that the helicopter had no mechanical malfunctions or failures during the flight.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.