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Location:
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Mesa, Arizona
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Accident Number:
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WPR22LA359
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Date & Time:
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September 26, 2022, 08:10 Local
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Registration:
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N252SC
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Aircraft:
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ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22 BETA
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Aircraft Damage:
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Substantial
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Defining Event:
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Hard landing
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Injuries:
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2 Minor
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Flight Conducted Under:
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Part 91: General aviation - Instructional
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Analysis
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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
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Factual Information
History of Flight
Autorotation Hard landing (Defining event)
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Flight instructor Information
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Certificate:
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Commercial; Flight instructor
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Age:
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39,Male
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Airplane Rating(s):
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Single-engine land; Multi-engine land
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Seat Occupied:
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Left
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Other Aircraft Rating(s):
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Helicopter
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Restraint Used:
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3-point
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Instrument Rating(s):
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Airplane; Helicopter
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Second Pilot Present:
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Yes
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Instructor Rating(s):
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Airplane single-engine; Helicopter; Instrument helicopter
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Toxicology Performed:
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Medical Certification:
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Class 2 None
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Last FAA Medical Exam:
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November 21, 2021
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Occupational Pilot:
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Yes
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Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
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August 29, 2022
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Flight Time:
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(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)
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Student pilot Information
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Certificate:
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Student
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Age:
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22,Male
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Airplane Rating(s):
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None
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Seat Occupied:
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Right
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Other Aircraft Rating(s):
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None
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Restraint Used:
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3-point
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Instrument Rating(s):
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None
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Second Pilot Present:
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Yes
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Instructor Rating(s):
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None
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Toxicology Performed:
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Medical Certification:
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Class 1 With waivers/limitations
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Last FAA Medical Exam:
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June 6, 2022
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Occupational Pilot:
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No
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Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
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|
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Flight Time:
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(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)
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Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
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Aircraft Make:
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ROBINSON HELICOPTER
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Registration:
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N252SC
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Model/Series:
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R22 BETA
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Aircraft Category:
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Helicopter
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Year of Manufacture:
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2005
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Amateur Built:
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Airworthiness Certificate:
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Normal
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Serial Number:
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3893
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Landing Gear Type:
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Skid
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Seats:
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2
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Date/Type of Last Inspection:
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September 14, 2022 Continuous airworthiness
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Certified Max Gross Wt.:
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1370 lbs
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Time Since Last Inspection:
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11.6 Hrs
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Engines:
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1
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Airframe Total Time:
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6257.6 Hrs at time of accident
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Engine Manufacturer:
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ELT:
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Not installed
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Engine Model/Series:
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Registered Owner:
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Rated Power:
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Operator:
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Operating Certificate(s) Held:
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Pilot school (141)
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Operator Does Business As:
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California Aeronautical University
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Operator Designator Code:
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Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
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Conditions at Accident Site:
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Visual (VMC)
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Condition of Light:
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Day
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Observation Facility, Elevation:
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KFFZ,1394 ft msl
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Distance from Accident Site:
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4 Nautical Miles
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Observation Time:
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07:54 Local
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Direction from Accident Site:
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180°
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Lowest Cloud Condition:
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Clear
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Visibility
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10 miles
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Lowest Ceiling:
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None
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Visibility (RVR):
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Wind Speed/Gusts:
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5 knots /
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Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:
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/ None
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Wind Direction:
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50°
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Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
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/
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Altimeter Setting:
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29.94 inches Hg
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Temperature/Dew Point:
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29°C / 7°C
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Precipitation and Obscuration:
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No Obscuration; No Precipitation
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Departure Point:
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Mesa, AZ (FFZ)
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Type of Flight Plan Filed:
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None
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Destination:
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Mesa, AZ
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Type of Clearance:
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VFR
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Departure Time:
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07:30 Local
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Type of Airspace:
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Class G
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Wreckage and Impact Information
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Crew Injuries:
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2 Minor
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Aircraft Damage:
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Substantial
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Passenger Injuries:
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Aircraft Fire:
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On-ground
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Ground Injuries:
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Aircraft Explosion:
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None
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Total Injuries:
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2 Minor
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Latitude, Longitude:
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33.54,-111.71(est)
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Administrative Information
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Investigator In Charge (IIC):
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Hicks, Michael
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Additional Participating Persons:
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Darren Henley; FAA; Scottsdale, AZ
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Original Publish Date:
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January 9, 2023 Investigation Class:
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4
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Note:
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The NTSB did not travel to the scene of this accident.
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Investigation Docket:
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https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106015
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