Sanford Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sanford, Maine 04073
Thursday, June 24, 1993 14:45 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT WAS PRACTICING PEDAL TURNS AT A HOVER AND HAD JUST COMPLETED A 90 DEGREE TURN FROM AN EASTERLY HEADING TO A SOUTHERLY HEADING. WHILE FACING TO THE SOUTH, THE HELICOPTER ROLLED TO THE RIGHT AND THE PILOT SAID, '...I COMPENSATED WITH LEFT CYCLIC...' THE MAIN ROTOR IMPACTED THE GROUND AND THE HELICOPTER ROTATED 180 DEGREES AROUND THE MAIN ROTOR SHAFT BEFORE COMING TO REST. THE PILOT REPORTED NO MECHANCIAL MALFUNCTIONS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the helicopter while hovering, resulting in the main rotor blades impacting the ground.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/24/1993
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1445
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City SANFORD
Event State MAINE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 04073
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SANFORD MUNICIPAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SFM
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 240
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 1445 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 320
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1816
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 24 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1600
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:24PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8557Y
NTSB Number NYC93LA126
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name ROBINSON
Aircraft Model R22
Aircraft Series Identifier R22
Aircraft Serial Number 463
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 May 3 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 92
Airframe Hours 3785
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ELMO J. RAINVILLE
Aircraft Owner Street Address BASIN LANE POB 188
Aircraft Owner City CTR BARNSTEAD
Aircraft Owner State NH
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 03225
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name JACK MCCORMICK
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address SANFORD AIRPORT
Operator City SANFORD
Operator State ME
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 04073
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Unknown
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code SFM
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1355
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code SFM
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Hover
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:24PM
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 --