On June 24, 2001, a Robinson R-22B (registration N7119D) was involved in an aviation accident near Garner, NC. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the ground during a low-altitude maneuver, which resulted in the left landing skid striking tall grass and causing a rollover. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot maneuvering a rotorcraft in a pasture after hovering encountered tall grass with a landing skid, resulting in a rollover and substantial damage to the aircraft.
What happened
The pilot reported that he had been operating his rotorcraft in the vicinity of his farm for approximately 15 minutes. After completing this local flight, he elected to land in an adjacent cow pasture. Following the landing, the pilot initiated a departure by lifting the aircraft into a hover at an altitude of roughly one foot above the ground. While maneuvering within this low-altitude envelope, the left landing skid made contact with a dense area of tall grass. This interaction caused the rotorcraft to roll over, resulting in substantial damage to the airframe.
The investigation
The primary factor identified during the review of the event was the proximity of the aircraft's landing gear to uneven terrain features. Specifically, the collision between the left skid and the high vegetation prevented stable flight operations during the low-level maneuver.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the ground during a low-altitude maneuver, which resulted in the left landing skid striking tall grass and causing a rollover.