Robinson R22 N410MM

Summary

On 17 June 2018, a Robinson R22 registered N410MM, operated by Concho Aviation Llc, was involved in an accident near Sterling City, Texas, 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

17 June 2018

Classification

Accident

Location

Sterling City, Texas, United States

Coordinates

31.8331, -100.9808

Aircraft

Robinson R22

Registration

N410MM

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2004

Engines

1

Operator

Concho Aviation Llc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Sterling City → Sterling City

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN18CA294

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s improper decision to exit the helicopter without shutting down the engine, which allowed the collective/throttle to increase and resulted in a loss of control of the unattended helicopter.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot exited the helicopter with the engine set to idle power. Subsequently, the collective/throttle increased due to the engine vibrations, and the helicopter became light on the skids. The helicopter rocked back on the tail, which separated the tail rotor from the helicopter and damaged the main rotor blades. The manufacturer had previously issued a safety notice, which stated to never exit the helicopter unattended with the engine running and the rotors turning because the collective can "creep up, increasing both pitch and throttle, allowing the helicopter to lift off or roll out of control," as occurred in this accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.