Akron-Fulton Intl Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Akron, Ohio 44306
Sunday, September 10, 1995 17:50 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot had not logged any helicopter experience during the past 4-1/2 years. He purchased the helicopter and obtained the mandatory awareness training, with 10 hours of dual flight instruction required by SFAR 73; however, his instructors recommended he receive additional training before flying his helicopter. Eight days later, the helicopter was observed at 200 feet during takeoff, when it began to 'wobble.' The helicopter entered a spin and crashed on the airport. Examination of the wreckage revealed no pre-impact failure of the helicopter's systems or drive train. When placed on a test stand, the engine ran within normal limits. The pilot had 417 hours of total flight time in helicopters, of which 13 hours were in make and model. Segments of the awareness training presented to the pilot included low RPM rotor stall, and energy management and rotor RPM decay. This was the third hour logged on the helicopter since the pilot purchased it.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's failure to maintain control of the rotor RPM, and his improper remedial action, which resulted in the rotor stalling. A contributing factor was the pilot's lack of recent experience in helicopters, and his lack of total experience in make and model.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/10/1995
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1750
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City AKRON
Event State OHIO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 44306
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport AKRON-FULTON INTL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID AKR
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1068
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1820 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID CAK
Elevation of weather observation facility 1228
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 7
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 10
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 1900
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1845
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 10 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2000
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:36PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N22BX
NTSB Number NYC95FA221
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name ROBINSON
Aircraft Model R-22 BETA
Aircraft Series Identifier R-22 BETA
Aircraft Serial Number 1050
Certified Max Gross Weight 1370
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jun 28 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 49
Airframe Hours 2831
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GERALD P. NYE
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO BOX 4393
Aircraft Owner City AKRON
Aircraft Owner State OH
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 44321
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code CAK
Departure City CANTON
Departure State OH
Departure Country
Departure Time 1735
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code AKR
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --