N57UP – Robinson R22 Beta – 2008-08-05 NTSB Accident Report

On August 05, 2008, a Robinson R22 Beta (N57UP) was involved in an incident near Buffalo, ND. All 1 person aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot's excessive descent rate and his failure to maintain clearance from terrain during the spray run entry.

The pilot reported that after passing over power lines, he performed a steep descent toward the field he was spraying. The helicopter had a "high descent rate and excessive nose down attitude" during the spray run entry. The pilot was unable to arrest the descent before the main rotor speed dropped below a safe operating speed. A run-on landing was made in the field at about 30 mph, but the helicopter pitched forward and the main rotor impacted terrain. The main rotor, tailboom, fuselage, and landing skids were damaged. The pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented if he had performed a "less aggressive spray run entry."

This incident is documented in NTSB report CHI08CA238. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N57UP.