Second crash R66 South Dakota

[kylesampson]

I'm not a pilot I just wanted to get this out there. My wifes uncle just died in a R66 in South Dakota. Anyone who has one better wait and see what happens in this investigation. What I have been told so far is that the rotor came off in mid flight. I just wanted to give other owners a heads up.

[BlueWhiteSky]

Do you have any link to press reports or other info related to that accident? I did a quick search on the Internet but no evidence found.
This woud be the second R66 down.

[Ian Corrigible]

RHOG report here.

FAA preliminary accident report here (incorrectly noted as an R22; N266 CY was S/N #10)

News article here

I/C

[Heliboy68]

Sorry to hear that. Two incidents in as many days!!!

[pedje]

Second crash R66

NTSB investigates fatal Robinson R66 crash



The lone pilot of a Robinson R66 helicopter was killed on 1 October following what appears to have been an in-flight breakup of the five-passenger type, first certified in October 2010.

The accident is the second fatal accident involving the R66 and the first in the US. An R66 crashed in Colombia, South America, in July, killing both occupants on board.


Thats the 2nd crash of the R66 in a short time, anyone know more about this ??
We are currently deciding whether to add another EC 120 to our fleet our the R66 but i would like to know more about these accidents first..






ŠNTSB


The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the accident, which according to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) preliminary report, happened near Philip, South Dakota, in the late afternoon in good weather. The NTSB does not issue a preliminary report until a minimum of 10 days after an accident.

On the NTSB's website, a picture of the crash site is labeled as "aircraft impacted the ground following an apparent in-flight breakup".

N266CY is registered to P P & J, based in Gillette, Wyoming, according to FAA records. The helicopter was certificated in March 2011.

The R66, Robinson's first turbine helicopter, is powered by a Rolls-Royce RR300 turboshaft engine. The helicopter is widely regarded as the most advanced, powerful and user-friendly helicopter the Torrance, California-based manufacturer has produced to date.

[Dick Sanford]

Without pre-empting the NTSB report; The information I have to date is that the accident was caused by a low 'G' manoeuvre.

[RPM AWARE]

no disrespect meant Pedje but this is old news...

[206 jock]

No disrespect in turn to you RPM but it's the first I've heard about Negative G/Mast bumping in this case. And the source of this is as close as you will get to an official Torrance factory statement.

I'd be willing to bet that there was a massive, collective sigh of relief emanating in California when they found that out. I'm sure this forum will be a livelier place for the next few days (R66, mast bumping, same old Robinson problems etc).

[Runway101]

We are currently deciding whether to add another EC 120 to our fleet our the R66 but i would like to know more about these accidents first..

If you need it soon and can afford it go for the EC120, otherwise just wait it out or go for another R44.

[Jackop3]

Problems with the R66??

I heard from an experienced mechanic that the R66 tail boom, got a "weak point" just in the upper part of the tail rotor guard, in the accident in Colombia, according to the pictures it seems like the tail boom went out from this part, maybe something like that happened in South Dakota??

[206 jock]

Err Jackop3, suggest you read the post above from Dick Sanford.

Then visit this website: MSA Home - as I intimated above, Dick is 'connected' and his post will have been made with due consideration and probably the knowledge of the factory.

I'm genuinely gobsmacked that this thread has been so quiet.

Two fatal crashes so early in the life of a new helicopter is unusual. What Dick is saying is that one of them looks like pilot error.

[Jackop3]

Thanks 206, I already read what Dick said, but the thing is that I knew in person both of the people crashed in Colombia and actually I got the pictures of the accident, the pictures shows that the tail boom went off because some stress in the lower part of the tail boom, just in the connection with the tail rotor guard, there wasn't a tree, and they never hit nothing with the tail, in the second accident, Iam not sure how an experimented pilot flying Robbies can get in a low G condition.

You touch the fact that he said something with the consideration and probably the knowledge of the factory, well I can tell you that the factory is going to say that the Colombian accident was because a main rotor low RPM, the thing here is this guys lost their tail boom before the low RPM.

And totally agree with you "Two fatal crashes so early in the life of a new helicopter is unusual", lets see what is the result of the USA investigation

[Dick Sanford]

I very rarely post comments because I like to deal in facts, or with accurate information available at the time. The problem with comments on accidents prior to an official report is that unless you are part of the investigation we do not know. What may look or seem obvious to a layman is not necessarily correct. To even suggest that by just looking at a general picture of a part of an accident wreckage, a person can determine whether or not that the part failed pre or post impact is unwise and unhelpful.
My current information about the first R66 accident is that the wreckage has signatures that are consistent with a Low RPM Rotor Stall event. The accident is still under investigation. The engine EMU might be helpful.

I note the reference to "experienced pilot" in the second R66 accident.
Perhaps it would be wise to check on the type of experience the pilot has rather than just saying "the pilot was experienced.
What would be the worst type of "experienced pilot" flying a two bladed helicopter?
I will leave the question open.
RHC are not in the habit of misleading anybody when it comes to the causes of accidents.

[deeper]

so dick, without being part of the investigation you have decided that a low g manouvre took place.

one on board, in a helicopter type that has suffered its fair share of main rotor failures and you THINK otherwise yet you say that we should not speculate.

blowing your own trumpet me thinks.

robinson not misleading, blowing someone else's trumpet.

and on top of that you like to deal in facts.

i am with jackop3 as the most likely piece of speculation. with photos.

and 206 jock, dick sanford is "connected" is he, you can't see me but i am bowing in reverence, and you say he is using factory information, well it must be right then mustn't it.

i think i could hear that sigh of relief emanating from california.

what would be the worst type of experienced pilot flying a two bladed helicopter ???.

i am sure we would all like to know please.

[Hughes500]

Deeper

Might be correct that Trick Dicky is somewhat tied to RHC !!!!!!

[SuperF]

I'll take a stab at the worst type of experience, with regards to light helicopters, probably 105/117 experience, followed by the likes of 500/350/407, especially if they have thousands of hrs.

best type of exp, would be in a 206, or 44, 22, thats if people are talking about low G etc, in a 66

[Dick Sanford]

Deeper, it might help if you read my post.

[toptobottom]

Deeper, before you do that, try this

[Jackop3]

I'm totally sure That you Dick got more information than me about this two accidents in the new R66, I'm worried because I'm flying a 66 now.
The Emu of the Colombian accident showed a low Rpm in the main rotor, but remember That the tail boom was founded 400 ft from the cabin crash.
What about the second fatality? What do you mean about he wasn't a experimented pilot?
Again, thanks for your comments, I just want to figure what is happening with this new helicopter.

[enginair]

Emu

Jackop3 our EMU shows N1, N2 , TQ and MGT only , N2 can be slower than NR ie Auto obviously TQ would be low