Pilot Debrief

SIKORSKY S-55B near Yorktown, NY — 2012-10-12

Final reportERA13LA018
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Date
2012-10-12
Location
Yorktown, NY, USA
Aircraft
SIKORSKY S-55B
Registration
N443FD
Category
Helicopter
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Descent

Probable cause

The pilot's improper decision to perform a downwind precautionary landing and the helicopter’s resultant settling with power and impact with terrain.

NTSB narrative

During cruise flight, the pilot heard an unusual noise and, after circling while attempting to determine the source of the noise, he elected to perform a precautionary landing to a nearby farm field. During the approach to land with a quartering tailwind, the pilot used the collective to arrest the descent rate; however, after having used the full travel of the collective with no appreciable reduction in the descent rate, the helicopter landed in the soft ground, all four landing gear sank, and the helicopter rolled over and came to rest on its left side. No preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies were noted that would have precluded normal operation. A nearby weather recording station recorded the wind about the time of the accident as being from the north-northwest at 12 knots, gusting to 16 knots. According to the pilot, the helicopter was moving forward at a speed of about 10 knots at touchdown. Considering the tailwind and the helicopter's low airspeed, it is likely that the airspeed slowed to the point where the helicopter lost translational lift and began to settle with power.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have opted for a different landing site earlier.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 6 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents6

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