ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22 ALPHA
Palmer, AK — April 21, 2012
Event Information
| Date | April 21, 2012 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | ANC12CA032 |
| Event ID | 20120422X33539 |
| Location | Palmer, AK |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 61.67278, -149.40277 |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | ROBINSON HELICOPTER |
| Model | R22 ALPHA |
| Category | HELI |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 1 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in a tailrotor strike.
Full Narrative
The pilot flew to a practice area and landed the helicopter on what the pilot thought was firm snow. As he landed, the helicopter suddenly broke through the surface, and its tailrotor struck the snow. The pilot repositioned the helicopter, and the tailrotor chip light illuminated. An inspection showed that the tailrotor driveshaft had sheared.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.