WEATHERFORD, TX, USA
N9074Y
ROBINSON R-22
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS LANDING ON A 5 TO 7 DEGREE UPHILL RIVER BANK WHEN THE HELICOPTER 'LOST ANTI-TORQUE CONTROL AND SPUN.' DURING THE LANDING, WITNESSES OBSERVED THE HELICOPTER 'DIPPING' FORWARD AND THEN 'ROCK BACK AND FORTH.' GROUND SCARS, CORRESPONDING TO LEADING EDGE DAMAGE ON BOTH TAIL ROTOR BLADES, WERE FOUND AT THE SITE. ADDITIONALLY, BOTH TAIL ROTOR BLADES WERE FOUND SEPARATED FROM THEIR YOKES AND THE TAIL BOOM WAS STRUCTURALLY DAMAGED.
On June 11, 1995, at 1645 central daylight time (CDT), a Robinson R-22 helicopter, N9074Y, was substantially damaged while landing on a river bank near Weatherford, Texas. The pilot rated student and passenger received minor injuries. The helicopter, owned by the pilot, was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The personal flight originated at Downtown Airpark, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, at 1430 CDT and was en route to Grand Prairie Municipal Airport, Dallas, Texas. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot reported that as he was landing on a 5 to 7 degree uphill slope, the helicopter "lost anti-torque control and spun." According to witnesses, the helicopter was landing down wind on a river bank when they observed the nose "dipping" forward, and then "rock back and forth." A Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that he observed ground scars corresponding to leading edge damage found on both tail rotor blades. Additionally, both tail rotor blades were separated from their yolks, and the tail boom was structurally damaged.
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL DURING LANDING RESULTING IN THE TAIL ROTOR BLADES STRIKING THE GROUND AND SEPARATING, AND THE SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL (ANTI-TORQUE) CONTROL. A FACTOR WAS THE UPHILL TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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