Henderson Executive Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Henderson, Nevada 89052
Sunday, April 8, 2012 18:45 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated that, while he was landing downwind, the helicopter began to yaw to the right. The pilot applied left pedal and forward cyclic inputs in an attempt to correct the yaw; however, the helicopter continued to rotate and descend. Shortly thereafter, the helicopter touched down on both skids and rolled onto its right side, which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe and rotor blades. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot did not maintain directional and yaw control of the helicopter during approach and landing, which resulted in a dynamic rollover.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/8/2012
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1845
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Henderson
Event State NEVADA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 89052
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 355822N
Event Location Longitude 1150804W
Event Location Airport Henderson Executive Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KHND
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 2492
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
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) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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) 29860
NTSB Notification Source WP ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record May 7 2012 8:19PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N55NZ
NTSB Number WPR12CA162
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Unknown
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY
Aircraft Model R44 II
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 11846
Certified Max Gross Weight 2500
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 2
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 23 2011 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 70
Airframe Hours 1013
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name TSUNIS NICHOLAS J
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City MEDFORD
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 97504-6937
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Zoltan Horvath
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City MEDFORD
Operator State OR
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 97504-6937
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 K0l7
Departure City Jean
Departure State NV
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1835
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code KHND
Destination City Henderson
Destination State NV
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 7 2012 8:18PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 17
Runway Length 6500
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --