NTSB CAROL · Event
Event NYC91LA130
Registry · N496TP
FAA Aircraft Registry record.
Make / Model
ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22 BETA
Year of manufacture
1991 · 0 years old at event
TCDS
H10WE · ROBINSON HELICOPTER CO
Engine
LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES (180 hp)
Seats / Engines
2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19910108
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A62819
Registrant of record
VERTICAL CORPORATION
Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).
Aircraft involved
Probable cause & findings
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, AND HIS INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WINDS, WHILE MANEUVERING CLOSE TO THE GROUND. A FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE ADVERSE WIND CONDITIONS.
Factual narrative
THE HELICOPTER WAS HOVERING ABOUT 3 TO 4 FEET ABOVE THE GRASS. A STATIONARY RIGHT TURN WAS STARTED. THE PILOT SAID, '[I] CONTINUED TO TURN SLOWLY UNTIL THE AIRCRAFT ACCELERATED IN THE TURN SHARPLY. [I] IMMEDIATELY APPLIED FULL LEFT PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE PEDAL STOP...THE HELICOPTER CONTINUED TO SPIN WITHOUT SLOWING...' THE FAA INSPECTOR SAID, '...PROBABLY DUE TO A GUST OF WIND, THE PILOT...WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE SPIN...BEFORE THE REAR...SKID CONTACTED THE GROUND...[THEN] THE TAIL ROTOR STRUCK THE GROUND.' THE CONTROLS WERE CHECKED FOR CONTINUITY AND NO MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. THE WIND AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS 18 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 26 KNOTS. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12
Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file
NTSB_1991_NYC91LA130.txt.
Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb.
Full investigation docket on
data.ntsb.gov ↗.
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