KAILUA-KONA, HI, USA
N9044Q
ROBINSON R22
THE PLT WAS TRANSPORTING A PHOTOGRAPHER FOR THE PURPOSE OF PHOTOGRAPHING A SPORTS EVENT. WHILE HOVERING AT AN UNSPECIFIED LOW ALTITUDE, THE PLT BECAME DISTRACTED AND ALLOWED THE ROTOR RPM TO DECREASE. AFTER THE LOW RPM WARNING HORN SOUNDED, THE PLT TRIED TO RECOVER, BUT REPORTEDLY, HE WAS UNABLE TO LOWER THE COLLECTIVE SUFFICIENTLY TO REGAIN CONTROL. A WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO SPIN SLOWLY AROUND. THE PLT APPLIED LEFT PEDAL TO PARTIALLY REDUCE A CLOCK-WISE ROTATION. THE HELICOPTER CONTINUED TO DESCEND UNTIL IT COLLIDED WITH LAVA ROCK, THEN IT ROLLED OVER. THE PLT REPORTED THERE WAS NO MECHANICAL FAILURE OR POWER LOSS.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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