Pilot Debrief

Robinson R-22 Beta near Philomath, OR — 2008-06-17

Final reportLAX08CA185
Sign in to save
Date
2008-06-17
Location
Philomath, OR, USA
Aircraft
Robinson R-22 Beta
Registration
N4000Y
Category
Helicopter
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The student pilot's failure to maintain rotor rpm during a pinnacle approach and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action and inadequate supervision of the flight. Contributing to the accident was the downdraft weather condition.

NTSB narrative

The flight instructor reported that he was flying an instructional cross-country flight with a student. They stopped for fuel at an airport near sea level and were returning to their home base. When they departed, the wind was from 300 degrees at 16 knots, gusting to 20 knots. They decided to do a pinnacle landing to a 4,060-foot mountain. As the student approached the peak for landing, a downdraft was encountered. The main rotor disk low rpm indicators activated, and the flight instructor took the controls and attempted to salvage the situation. The helicopter's landing skid impacted terrain, and the aircraft rolled twice down the mountain. The flight instructor and student exited with minor injuries.

NTSB coding

View NTSB final report

Related mishaps