Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Waddell, Arizona 85355
Tuesady, March 22, 2005 10:00 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The helicopter contacted high vegetation and rolled over while maneuvering at low altitude. The pilot reported that he went over a small hill into a ravine. As he tried to gain altitude to climb out of the ravine, rotor rpm decayed. The pilot turned the helicopter; however, the right skid hooked onto vegetation. The helicopter rolled over separating the main rotor system, tail boom, and tail rotor.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's failure to maintain adequate rotor rpm and obstacle clearance, resulting in a dynamic rollover and collision with terrain.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/22/2005
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1000
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City Waddell
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85355
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 333400N
Event Location Longitude 1123000W
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 --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 953 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID DVT
Elevation of weather observation facility 1478
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 100
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 20172
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Mar 22 2005 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1136
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Aug 29 2006 3:49PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Scottsdale, AZ FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N716GH
NTSB Number LAX05LA119
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Unknown
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Robinson
Aircraft Model R-22 Beta
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 3752
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 Mar 1 2005 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 1.7
Airframe Hours 100.7
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GCA International, Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 6801 N. Glen Harbor Blvd.
Aircraft Owner City Glendale
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 85307
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name GOLD COAST HELICOPTERS INC
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Glendale
Operator State AZ
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 85307
Operator Code HWGA
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 GEU
Departure City Glendale
Departure State AZ
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 930
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code TUS
Destination City TUCSON
Destination State AZ
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - flare/touchdown
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Jun 2 2006 6:02PM
User who most recently changed record COOS
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --