Pilot Debrief

ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R22 near Kenosha, WI — 2017-06-04

Final reportCEN17LA210
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Date
2017-06-04
Location
Kenosha, WI, USA
Airport
ENW
Aircraft
ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R22
Registration
N601HA
Category
Helicopter
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

The pilot's loss of helicopter control during landing to a dolly.

NTSB narrative

After a local flight, the commercial pilot was attempting to land the helicopter on a wooden dolly. Witnesses observed the helicopter near the ground, then it quickly climbed to 25 ft above ground level. While airborne, the helicopter wobbled and appeared unstable, then descended and impacted the ramp on its right side. Witnesses also reported that a piece of the helicopter separated during the accident sequence, which likely occurred when a tail rotor blade struck the ground. Impact marks from the tail rotor blades were found in the pavement near the main wreckage. The damage to the outboard edge of the tail rotor blade tip indicated that the helicopter was mostly upright when the blade tip contacted the ground and separated. A postaccident examination of the accident site and wreckage revealed yellow paint transfer from the wooden landing dolly on the front right side of the helicopter. The dolly was found about 50 ft from the helicopter on the ramp. Examination of the engine and airframe did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. A postaccident engine test run was performed with no anomalies noted. It is likely that, while attempting to land on the dolly, the pilot lost control of the helicopter, which descended and impacted the landing dolly and the ground.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Pilot's medical certificate was expired, indicating unfitness to fly.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents8

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