Robinson R22 N4085T

Summary

On 24 August 2018 at about 16:30 local time, a Robinson R22 registered N4085T, operated by Honey B Llc, was involved in an accident near Corvallis, Oregon, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 August 2018 at 16:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Corvallis, Oregon, United States

Nearest airport

Corvallis Muni (CVO)

Coordinates

44.5000, -123.2833

Aircraft

Robinson R22

Registration

N4085T

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1991

Engines

1

Operator

Honey B Llc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Corvallis → Corvallis

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA18CA508

1 person had minor injuries.

The student helicopter pilot’s inadequate torque pedal application during practice approaches with a tailwind, which resulted in a loss of yaw control 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 solo student helicopter pilot reported that he was practicing takeoffs and landings to a taxiway and that he was preparing for a steep approach. The steep approach required more left pedal, which resulted in the helicopter being "out of trim (right yaw)." A tailwind accelerated the right yaw. He attempted to recover but added "insufficient left pedal." The helicopter then spun and landed hard. The helicopter came to rest on its left side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the windshield, fuselage, and tailboom. The student reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, about 34 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 290° at 3 knots. The same automated station reported that, about 26 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 030° at 6 knots. The helicopter was approaching a taxiway parallel to runway 17. The Federal Aviation Administration's Helicopter Flying Handbook, FAA-H-8083-21A, contained a section titled "Weathercock Stability," which stated: In this region, the helicopter attempts to weathervane, or weathercock, its nose into the relative wind. Unless a resisting pedal input is made, the helicopter starts a slow, uncommanded turn either to the right or left, depending upon the wind direction. If the pilot allows a right yaw rate to develop and the tail of the helicopter moves into this region, the yaw rate can accelerate rapidly. In order to avoid the onset of LTE [loss of tail rotor effectiveness] in this downwind condition, it is imperative to maintain positive control of the yaw rate and devote full attention to flying the helicopter.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.