Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Scottdale, Pennsylvania 15683
Sunday, September 19, 1993 14:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND THE HELICOPTER NEAR A ROCK QUARRY. AFTER A 'NORMAL' APPROACH INTO THE WIND, THE PILOT NOTICED THAT THE CHOSEN LANDING SITE 'APPEARED UNEVEN.' HE DECIDED TO DISCONTINUE THE APPROACH. HE DID NOT HAVE ADEQUATE CLEARANCE ABOVE THE GROUND, OR ENOUGH POWER AVAILABLE TO INITIATE AN IMMEDIATE CLIMB, AND THE HELICOPTER CONTINUED TO DESCEND. THE LEFT SKID IMPACTED TERRAIN AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER ONTO ITS LEFT SIDE. NO PRE-IMPACT MECHANICAL DEFICIENCIES WERE REPORTED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR LANDING AND HIS DELAY IN PERFORMING REMEDIAL ACTION.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/19/1993
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1430
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City SCOTTDALE
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 15683
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1745 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 40
Weather Observation Facility ID LBE
Elevation of weather observation facility 1185
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 10000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 10000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 30
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1246
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 19 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1700
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:38PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N88RD
NTSB Number BFO93LA180
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 2214
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Feb 13 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 99
Airframe Hours 199
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DAVIS AVIATION, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 29 DIVISION AVENUE
Aircraft Owner City GREENSBURG
Aircraft Owner State PA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 15601
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ROBERT B. DAVIS
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 29 DIVISION AVENUE
Operator City GREENSBURG
Operator State PA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 15601
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 Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code LBE
Departure City LATROBE
Departure State PA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1400
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
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 --