2014 Robinson R22 Beta accident near Schönkahler

Incident Overview and Flight Details On 11 October 2014, a Robinson R22 Beta helicopter departed from the private heliport at Wiedergeltingen at approximately 17:30 local time. The pilot, accompanied by a passenger, was conducting a sightseeing flight toward the northern Alpine foothills, passing near the towns of Wertach and Jungholz. The flight path took the aircraft across the German-Austrian border, where it circled the Schönkahler peak multiple times in a counter-clockwise direction. ## Accident Sequence During the second circuit around the peak, at approximately 18:15 local time, the pilot attempted to gain altitude. He reported a sudden loss of power, a decrease in airspeed, and the activation of the rotor RPM warning horn and light. The helicopter also became unresponsive to control inputs. The pilot initially attempted to fly away from a nearby slope but subsequently decided to land. During the landing, a skid caught on the terrain, causing the helicopter to overturn. ## Aircraft and Personnel The aircraft was a 1991 Robinson R22 Beta, a two-seat helicopter equipped with a Lycoming O-320-B2C engine and a two-blade main rotor. The pilot was a 63-year-old holder of a private pilot license for helicopters, with approximately 533 total flight hours, including 300 hours on the R22. The passenger held a professional pilot license and had previously flown the aircraft twice. ## Investigation Findings The investigation was conducted by the German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation (BFU) and was closed summarily under § 18 FlUUG, focusing solely on the facts. The aircraft was not equipped with a flight data recorder or cockpit voice recorder, as these were not mandatory. Radar data from the Bundeswehr and civil air traffic control ended at 18:15:20 near the crash site. ## Damage and Environmental Conditions The helicopter was heavily damaged, with the tail boom broken, both tail rotor blades torn off, and the main rotor blades bent and twisted. The skids were detached, and the cockpit glass was destroyed. No fire occurred. The crash site was located on Austrian territory, on a steep, rocky slope covered with grass and moss. Meteorological data indicated light foehn influence at the site, with a density altitude of approximately 6,500 ft on the peak. The passenger sustained minor injuries, and both occupants exited the aircraft independently.