N3070S

Substantial
None

ROBINSON R22 BetaS/N: 4217

Accident Details

Date
Saturday, September 24, 2011
NTSB Number
WPR11CA467
Location
Douglas, WY
Event ID
20110926X63740
Coordinates
42.796943, -105.385833
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
1
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot's failure to maintain yaw control of the helicopter while hover taxiing in gusty wind conditions.

Aircraft Information

Registration
Make
ROBINSON
Serial Number
4217
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Year Built
2007
Model / ICAO
R22 BetaR22
Aircraft Type
Rotorcraft
No. of Engines
1
Seats
2
FAA Model
R22 BETA

Registered Owner (Current)

Name
MAT-SU HELICOPTER TRAINING LLC
Address
6540 E BEECHCRAFT RD
City
WASILLA
State / Zip Code
AK 99654-9330
Country
United States

Analysis

According to the pilot, while hover taxiing downwind, a gust of wind pushed the tail 90 degrees to the left, which forced the helicopter to descend into the pavement. The pilot reported that the front and rear crossover tubes between the left and right landing skid assemblies were bent, and that the tail cone was wrinkled at the fuselage attach points.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# WPR11CA467