Robinson R22 N999FR

Summary

On 5 April 2022 at about 15:30 local time, a Robinson R22 registered N999FR was involved in an accident near Hawley, 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

5 April 2022 at 15:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Hawley, Texas, United States

Coordinates

32.6099, -99.7857

Aircraft

Robinson R22

Registration

N999FR

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2018

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Hawley → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN22LA167

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s poor decision to exit the helicopter with the engine and main rotor still operating.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he landed and exited the helicopter and stood just outside of the door. The helicopter “picked up, spun around,” and knocked the pilot onto the ground. The helicopter came to rest on its left side resulting in substantial damage. The helicopter manufacturer had issued a safety notice SN-17 in 1984. The notice stated in part that the pilot should never exit the helicopter with the engine running and rotors turning as “the collective can creep up, increasing both pitch and throttle, allowing the helicopter to lift off or roll out of control.” The pilot stated that there were no mechanical anomalies with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operations.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.