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NTSB Final Report: Mesa, AZ

Location:

Mesa, Arizona

Accident Number:

WPR22LA359

Date & Time:

September 26, 2022, 08:10 Local

Registration:

N252SC

Aircraft:

ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22 BETA

Aircraft Damage:

Substantial

Defining Event:

Hard landing

Injuries:

2 Minor

Flight Conducted Under:

Part 91: General aviation - Instructional

 

 

 

Analysis

 

 

 

While conducting an instructional flight, the flight instructor reported that, he assumed control of the helicopter to demonstrate a left 180° autorotation, and the maneuver began normally. Part way through the maneuver, the pilot noticed that the helicopter was lower in altitude than he expected. He reported that he applied right cyclic and aft cyclic, attempting to slow the rate of descent. The helicopter landed hard and skidded to a stop. When stopped, the flight instructor and the student pilot exited the helicopter, and a postimpact fire ensued. The tail boom and fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be: The flight instructor’s failure to maintain control of the helicopter’s rate of descent, resulting in a hard landing.

Findings

Personnel issues - Aircraft control - Instructor/check pilot

Aircraft - Descent rate - Not attained/maintained


Factual Information

History of Flight

Autorotation                                        Hard landing (Defining event)

Flight instructor Information

Certificate:

Commercial; Flight instructor

Age:

39,Male

Airplane Rating(s):

Single-engine land; Multi-engine land

Seat Occupied:

Left

Other Aircraft Rating(s):

Helicopter

Restraint Used:

3-point

Instrument Rating(s):

Airplane; Helicopter

Second Pilot Present:

Yes

Instructor Rating(s):

Airplane single-engine; Helicopter; Instrument helicopter

Toxicology Performed:

 

Medical Certification:

Class 2 None

Last FAA Medical Exam:

November 21, 2021

Occupational Pilot:

Yes

Last Flight Review or Equivalent:

August 29, 2022

Flight Time:

(Estimated) 918 hours (Total, all aircraft), 278 hours (Total, this make and model), 788 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 67 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 29 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft)

Student pilot Information

Certificate:

Student

Age:

22,Male

Airplane Rating(s):

None

Seat Occupied:

Right

Other Aircraft Rating(s):

None

Restraint Used:

3-point

Instrument Rating(s):

None

Second Pilot Present:

Yes

Instructor Rating(s):

None

Toxicology Performed:

 

Medical Certification:

Class 1 With waivers/limitations

Last FAA Medical Exam:

June 6, 2022

Occupational Pilot:

No

Last Flight Review or Equivalent:

 

Flight Time:

(Estimated) 53.7 hours (Total, all aircraft), 53.7 hours (Total, this make and model), 10.1 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 17.7 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 3.1 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make:

ROBINSON HELICOPTER

Registration:

N252SC

Model/Series:

R22 BETA

Aircraft Category:

Helicopter

Year of Manufacture:

2005

Amateur Built:

 

Airworthiness Certificate:

Normal

Serial Number:

3893

Landing Gear Type:

Skid

Seats:

2

Date/Type of Last Inspection:

September 14, 2022 Continuous airworthiness

Certified Max Gross Wt.:

1370 lbs

Time Since Last Inspection:

11.6 Hrs

Engines:

1

Airframe Total Time:

6257.6 Hrs at time of accident

Engine Manufacturer:

 

ELT:

Not installed

Engine Model/Series:

 

Registered Owner:

 

Rated Power:

 

Operator:

 

Operating Certificate(s) Held:

Pilot school (141)

Operator Does Business As:

California Aeronautical University

Operator Designator Code:

 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site:

Visual (VMC)

Condition of Light:

Day

Observation Facility, Elevation:

KFFZ,1394 ft msl

Distance from Accident Site:

4 Nautical Miles

Observation Time:

07:54 Local

Direction from Accident Site:

180°

Lowest Cloud Condition:

Clear

Visibility

10 miles

Lowest Ceiling:

None

Visibility (RVR):

 

Wind Speed/Gusts:

5 knots /

Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:

/ None

Wind Direction:

50°

Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:

/

Altimeter Setting:

29.94 inches Hg

Temperature/Dew Point:

29°C / 7°C

Precipitation and Obscuration:

No Obscuration; No Precipitation

 

Departure Point:

Mesa, AZ (FFZ)

Type of Flight Plan Filed:

None

Destination:

Mesa, AZ

Type of Clearance:

VFR

Departure Time:

07:30 Local

Type of Airspace:

Class G

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries:

2 Minor

Aircraft Damage:

Substantial

Passenger Injuries:

 

Aircraft Fire:

On-ground

Ground Injuries:

 

Aircraft Explosion:

None

Total Injuries:

2 Minor

Latitude, Longitude:

33.54,-111.71(est)

Administrative Information

Investigator In Charge (IIC):

Hicks, Michael

 

Additional Participating Persons:

Darren Henley; FAA; Scottsdale, AZ

 

Original Publish Date:

January 9, 2023                                                     Investigation Class:

4

Note:

The NTSB did not travel to the scene of this accident.

 

Investigation Docket:

https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106015

 

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Created 152 days ago
by Admin

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