Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA accident near Rockport, Washington, October 3, 2012
On October 3, 2012 at about 8:40 pm local time, a Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, registered N80140, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Rockport, Washington (Skagit Regional Airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain sufficient rotor rpm during a precautionary landing, which resulted in a hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 3, 2012 · about 8:40 pm local time
- Place
- Rockport, Washington · Skagit Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA · all R22 BETAs on the register
- Registration
- N80140 · registry record · serial 1030
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Miscellaneous/other during maneuvering defining event
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 646 hours in all; 198 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 553 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 11, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,502 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 4, 2012; 48 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Glacier Aviation, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: KBVS Burlington WA at 7:30 pm
- Destination: KBVS Burlington WA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.37 inHg
- Observation at 8:35 pm from BVS, 50 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.