Naples Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Naples, Florida 33942
Monday, October 5, 1992 12:26 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PLT STATED THAT DURING HIS FIRST PASS WHILE OVER TREES, FOR A PHOTOGRAPHIC RUN, THE HELICOPTER EXPERIENCED A SLIGHT YAWING TENDENCY. DURING THE SECOND PASS AT THE SAME AIRSPEED BUT AT A LOWER ALTITUDE (BETWEEN 25 AND 50 FT ABOVE THE TREES) THE HELICOPTER ENTERED AN UNCOMMANDED RT YAW. HE LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE CONTROL AND PUSHED THE CYCLIC BUT DID NOT ADJUST THE THROTTLE. THE SPINNING DESCENT CONTINUED UNTIL IMPACT WITH THE TREES THEN THE GROUND. EXAM OF THE DAMAGED TAIL ROTOR BLADES BY AN FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR INDICATE EVIDENCE OF ROTATION AT IMPACT. THE PLT'S BOSS WAS THE PHOTOGRAPHER.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

INCORRECT AIRSPEED, INSUFFICIENT AIRSPEED, AND FAILURE OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND TO PERFORM THE CORRECT EMERGENCY PROCEDURE FOLLOWING THE IN FLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS SELF INDUCED PRESSURE BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/5/1992
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1226
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City NAPLES
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33942
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport NAPLES MUNICIPAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID APF
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 9
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1235 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID APF
Elevation of weather observation facility 9
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
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) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 614
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 5 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1320
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 48012
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 3:23PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2321X
NTSB Number MIA93LA004
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 BETA
Aircraft Series Identifier R22 BETA
Aircraft Serial Number 1976
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 Aug 2 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 60
Airframe Hours 460
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name THE LONDON CO.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 100 AVIATION DR.
Aircraft Owner City NAPLES
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 33942
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name THE LONDON CO.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 100 AVIATION DR.
Operator City NAPLES
Operator State FL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 33942
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) Other Work Use
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code APF
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 930
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 Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
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 --