ELLINGTON, CT, USA
N496TP
ROBINSON R-22B
THE HELICOPTER WAS HOVERING ABOUT 3 TO 4 FEET ABOVE THE GRASS. A STATIONARY RIGHT TURN WAS STARTED. THE PILOT SAID, '[I] CONTINUED TO TURN SLOWLY UNTIL THE AIRCRAFT ACCELERATED IN THE TURN SHARPLY. [I] IMMEDIATELY APPLIED FULL LEFT PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE PEDAL STOP...THE HELICOPTER CONTINUED TO SPIN WITHOUT SLOWING...' THE FAA INSPECTOR SAID, '...PROBABLY DUE TO A GUST OF WIND, THE PILOT...WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE SPIN...BEFORE THE REAR...SKID CONTACTED THE GROUND...[THEN] THE TAIL ROTOR STRUCK THE GROUND.' THE CONTROLS WERE CHECKED FOR CONTINUITY AND NO MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. THE WIND AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS 18 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 26 KNOTS.
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, AND HIS INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WINDS, WHILE MANEUVERING CLOSE TO THE GROUND. A FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE ADVERSE WIND CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
Aviation Accidents App
In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports
