On 2 May 2018, float-equipped RobinsonR22 helicopter N923SM ofHelicopter Academy LLC was in cruise at 80 knots and 800 ft about half a mile off Panama City Beach, Florida, when it slowly started losing airspeed. The pilot, the sole occupant, pushed the cyclic control forward until he reached the forward stop, but the airspeed continued to decrease and the helicopter began to lose altitude. Another helicopter was flying in formation during this positioning flight and observed N923SM’s speed drop to from 80 to 30 knots in about 15 seconds.
Recovered Wreckage of R22 N923SM (Credit: NTSB)
The helicopter ultimately impacted the water tail boom first. The helicopter rolled inverted after being struck by waves almost immediately and the pilot clung to the floats until rescued with minor injuries.
Postaccident examination of the helicopter revealed that the main rotor blades were deformed, the fuselage was substantially damaged, and the tail boom was partially separated.
Further, the ropes used to tie down the helicopter’s main rotor blades were found wrapped around the rotor head swashplate and pitch control rods.
Tie Down and Wrapped Around R22 N923SM Main Rotor Head (Credit: NTSB)
They explain that:
Before the flight, the pilot conducted a preflight inspection of the helicopter, which would have included removing the rotor blade tie-down ropes and associated socks that cover the rotor blade tips and storing them under the cockpit seat. However, because the ropes were found wrapped around the swashplate and pitch control rods, it is likely that the tie-down ropes were not properly removed and secured and, at some point during the flight, became entangled with the swashplate and pitch control rods, which prevented the pilot from being able to effectively control the pitch of the helicopter.
Close-up of R22 N923SM Main Rotor Head (Credit: NTSB)
There are no written procedures for tie down ropes and storage procedures. Its taught verbally. …the pilot removed the tie down ropes and thought he placed them under the left cockpit seat storage container. He was not distracted and does not remember placing the tie downs anywhere else.
The flight was without doors, so any loose items could have departed the aircraft.
…the pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with a rating for rotorcraft-helicopter as well as a flight instructor certificate with a rating for rotorcraft-helicopter. The pilot reported 467.7 total hours of flight experience [all in the R22].
NTSB Probable Cause
The pilot’s failure to properly remove and secure the tie-down ropes during the preflight inspection, which resulted in the ropes becoming entangled in the rotor head swashplate and pitch control rods during flight and the subsequent loss of pitch control.
On 21 October 2015 Bell206BN1060C attempted a take-off from Fishing Vessel Majestic Sun off Christmas Island, Kiribati in the Pacific for a fish spotting flight, but a tie down remained attached.
On 30 October 2015, N420PH, a Bell 407 of PHI, lost most of one rotor blade in an accident on an offshore installation in the Gulf of Mexico.
Aerossurance has extensive air safety, operations, airworthiness, human factors, aviation regulation and safety analysis experience. For practical aviation advice you can trust, contact us at: enquiries@aerossurance.com
