Individually Owned: 150,657
Corporate Owned: 137,281
Skagit Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report
Rockport, Washington 98283
Wednesday, October 3, 2012 13:40 PDT
NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident
The pilot reported that while maneuvering, the helicopter’s clutch caution light illuminated. The pilot initiated a precautionary descent and began to slow the helicopter in an effort to locate a clearing in the trees. The clutch caution light was still on after 10 to 12 seconds, so the pilot instructed his passenger to pull the circuit breaker. The pilot spotted a clearing, and shortly thereafter the low rotor rpm warning light illuminated and the horn sounded. The pilot lowered the collective and headed for a landing spot. About 20 to 30 feet above ground level, the pilot flared the helicopter and used the remaining collective control input the last 3 to 5 feet. The helicopter subsequently landed hard in high brush surrounded by tall trees.
During the postaccident examination, bench testing of the clutch actuator revealed that the actuator operated normally and within specified limitations. Further examination of the actuator motor found no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The reason for the illumination of the clutch light could not be determined.
NTSB Probable Cause Narrative
The pilot's failure to maintain sufficient rotor rpm during a precautionary landing, which resulted in a hard landing.
Event Information
| Type of Event | Accident |
| Event Date | 10/3/2012 |
| Event Day of the Week | Wednesday |
| Time of Event | 1340 |
| Event Time Zone | Pacific Daylight Time |
| Event City | Rockport |
| Event State | WASHINGTON |
| Event Country | -- |
| Zipcode of the event site | 98283 |
| Event Date Year | 2012 |
| Event Date Month | 10 |
| MidAir Collision Indicator | No |
| On Ground Collision occurred ? | No |
| Event Location Latitude | 485507N |
| Event Location Longitude | 1212110W |
| Event Location Airport | Skagit Regional Airport |
| Event Location Nearest Airport ID | BVS |
| Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport | Off Airport/Airstrip |
| Distance from airport in statute miles | 32 |
| Degrees magnetic from airport | -- |
| Airport Elevation | 144 |
| Weather Briefing Completeness | -- |
| Investigator's weather source | Pilot |
| Time of the weather observation | 1335 Pacific Daylight Time |
| Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) | 237 |
| Weather Observation Facility ID | BVS |
| Elevation of weather observation facility | 144 |
| Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) | 50 |
| Time Zone of the weather observation | PDT |
| 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) | 1 |
| Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) | 300 |
| Variable Wind Indicator | Wind direction could be determined |
| Wind Speed (knots) | 9 |
| Wind Velocity Indicator | -- |
| Wind Gust Indicator | Not Gusting |
| Wind Gust (knots) | -- |
| Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) | 30.38 |
| Density Altitude (feet) | -- |
| Intensity of Precipitation | -- |
| METAR weather report | METAR KBVS 032035Z AUTO 30009KT 10SM CLR 18/01 A30 |
| 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) | 31675 |
| NTSB Notification Source | ROC-SEA |
| NTSB Notification Date | -- |
| NTSB Notification Time | -- |
| Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Jun 12 2013 1:55PM |
| User who most recently changed record | stam |
| Basic weather conditions | Visual Meteorological Cond |
| FAA District Office | -- |
Aircraft Involved |
|
|---|---|
Aircraft #1 |
|
| Aircraft Registration Number | N80140 |
| NTSB Number | WPR13LA003 |
| Missing Aircraft Indicator | -- |
| Federal Aviation Reg. Part | Part 91: General Aviation |
| Type of Flight Plan filed | None |
| Flight plan Was Activated? | No |
| Damage | Substantial |
| Aircraft Fire | None |
| Aircraft Explosion | None |
| Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name | ROBINSON HELICOPTER |
| Aircraft Model | R22 BETA |
| Aircraft Series Identifier | -- |
| Aircraft Serial Number | 1030 |
| Certified Max Gross Weight | -- |
| Aircraft Category | Helicopter |
| Aircraft Registration Class | -- |
| 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 | Sep 4 2012 12:00AM |
| Airframe hours since last inspection | 48 |
| Airframe Hours | 7502 |
| ELT Installed | Yes |
| ELT Activated | No |
| ELT Aided Location of Event Site | No |
| ELT Type | Unknown |
| Aircraft Owner Name | CARTER RICHARD K |
| Aircraft Owner Street Address | -- |
| Aircraft Owner City | PORT ORCHARD |
| Aircraft Owner State | WA |
| Aircraft Owner Country | USA |
| Aircraft Owner Zipcode | 98367-9033 |
| Operator is an individual? | No |
| Operator Name | Glacier Aviation, Inc. |
| Operator Same as Owner? | No |
| Operator Is Doing Business As | -- |
| Operator Address Same as Owner? | No |
| Operator Street Address | -- |
| Operator City | Burlington |
| Operator State | WA |
| Operator Country | USA |
| Operator Zip code | 98233 |
| 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) | Business |
| Second Pilot on Board | No |
| Departure Point Same as Event | No |
| Departure Airport Code | KBVS |
| Departure City | Burlington |
| Departure State | WA |
| Departure Country | USA |
| Departure Time | 1230 |
| Departure Time Zone | PDT |
| Destination Same as Local Flt | dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere |
| Destination Airport Code | KBVS |
| Destination City | Burlington |
| Destination State | WA |
| Destination Country | USA |
| Specific Phase of Flight | -- |
| Report sent to ICAO? | -- |
| Evacuation occurred | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Jun 12 2013 1:41PM |
| User who most recently changed record | stam |
| Since inspection or accident | Last Inspection |
| Event Location Runway Number and Location | N/A |
| Runway Length | -- |
| Runway Width | -- |
| Sight Seeing flight | No |
| Air Medical Flight | No |
| Medical Flight | -- |