Robinson R22 BETA II N3059Q

Summary

On 1 February 2013 at about 21:00 local time, a Robinson R22 BETA II registered N3059Q, operated by Jams M. Janysek, was involved in an accident near Gillett, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

1 February 2013 at 21:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Gillett, Texas, United States

Coordinates

29.1361, -97.6628

Aircraft

Robinson R22 BETA II

Registration

N3059Q

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Jams M. Janysek

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Karnes City → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN13LA148

2 people were seriously injured.

A loss of tail rotor effectiveness while manuevering at low altitude.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot and a passenger were conducting an aerial hunt at low altitude. The pilot said he was about 20 feet above 30-foot-tall trees and flying into the wind slowly when the tail rotor "malfunctioned" and he lost control. The helicopter started spinning to the right, and the pilot initiated an autorotation. The helicopter landed hard and rolled over on its left side. The pilot stated that he thought the helicopter had lost tail rotor authority. Examination of the tail rotor found no evidence of a tail rotor malfunction or defects that would preclude normal operation. The pilot was operating the helicopter in a low airspeed, out of ground effect, high-power-demand flight condition, which was conducive to the development of loss of tail rotor effectiveness.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.