N8316W

On September 27, 1997, approximately 1115 central daylight time, a Robinson R22 Beta helicopter, N8316W, registered to and operated by Helicopter Services, Inc., as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 solo cross country flight, was substantially damaged during landing at Huntsville Municipal Airport, Huntsville, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a company flight plan was filed. The student pilot, sole occupant of the helicopter, sustained minor injuries. The flight originated from Houston, Texas, about 45 minutes before the accident.

During a telephone interview, with the assistance of an interpreter, conducted by the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC) and on the enclosed Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, the Japanese student pilot reported that about 7 miles southeast of the Huntsville Municipal Airport, he observed "smoke from the ground moving West to East," and then announced his position to Huntsville on frequency 122.8 Mhz. He did not hear anybody on the radio, so he "decided to cross the runway to check the windsock." He crossed at mid-field at about 800 feet indicated [msl] and saw the windsock. He "thought that the wind was a little bit strong from North West."

The student pilot further reported that he was making an approach to a touch down zone for runway 36, but was coming in too fast and decided to continue down the runway. At about "5 feet from the ground" and approximately 500 feet from the departure end of the runway, he applied aft cyclic, "pulled collective and add[ed] left pedal." The helicopter began a spin to the right and drift to the east. He applied "left pedal;" however, the spin did not stop. The helicopter descended and its "right skid" impacted the ground. Subsequently, the helicopter "rolled over to the right."

A flight instructor and his student reported that they observed the helicopter land on "runway 36 with the wind out of the south." The helicopter drifted to the east of the runway and ascended to an altitude of about 20 feet above the ground. The helicopter started to spin to the right, "slowly at first, but picking up speed of rotation. The helicopter completed three full 360 turns with pitch angles varying about 15 degrees up and down." The helicopter descended, and the "main rotor blades struck the ground first and torqued the helicopter into the ground at an angle not appearing to exceed 30 degrees, thereby forcing it on its side."

Examination of the accident site by the FAA inspector revealed that the helicopter was in the grassy area between the runway and taxiway on its left side. Examination of the helicopter revealed that the left skid tube was fractured, the tailboom was partially separated, and the tail rotor drive shaft was separated; however, there was rotational evidence within the tailboom. Continuity was established to all flight controls.

At the time of the accident the density altitude was calculated at 1,767 feet.