# Accident 19980521010369A: Robsin R22BETA, San Luis Obispo, CA, May 21, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 21, 1998, 19:24 local time
- Place: San Luis Obispo, CA
- Airport: San Luis Obispo County
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Autorot Descent (Rotorcraft)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.2499° N, 120.6204° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2499&lon=-120.6204&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2312N, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2312N) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA (registry code 7640110, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBSIN R22BETA
- Reported engine: LYC O320B2C
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 362 total, 362 in this make and model, 113 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX98LA170](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA170) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980521010369A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

DURING HOVER MOVED BACKWARD AND LEFT. SKID CAUGHT RUNWAY SURFACE. TURNED LEFT AND ROLLED OVER. (.4)THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR ASKED THE STUDENT TO DEMONSTRATE AN AUTOROTATION FROM A HOVER APPROXIMATELY 2 TO 3 FEET HIGH. THE CFI STAYED ON THE CONTROLS THROUGHOUT THE MANEUVER.  AFTER THEY CLOSED THE THROTTLE, THE HELICOPTER MOVED BACKWARDS AND TO THE LEFT.  AS THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED THE GROUND, THE REAR PORTION OF THE LEFT SKID BECAME IMBEDDED IN THE RUNWAY SURFACE AND THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED OVER ONTO ITS LEFT SIDE.  THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST APPROXIMATELY 180 DEGREES FROM ITS ORIGINAL HEADING.  THE WINDS AT THE TIME WERE REPORTED TO BE FROM A DIRECTION OF 310 DEGREES AT A VELOCITY OF 18 KNOTS GUSTING TO 22 KNOTS.  THE CFI REPORTED THAT THEY CONDUCTED ALL THEIR MANEUVERS INTO THE WIND.                                                           (-23)WHILE PRACTICING HOVER AUTOROTATIONS THE HELICOPTER STRUCK THE GROUND WHILE MIVING BACKWARDS AND TO THE LEFT.  THE LEFT REAR CORNER OF THE SKID CAUGHT THE SURFACE OF THE RUNWAY AND THE MOMENTUM OF THE AIRCRAFT CAUSED IT TO TURN TO THE LEFT AND FLIP OVER AND SETTLER ON ITS' LEFT SIDE.  THE WINDS                                                        WERE REPORTED TO BE 18 KNOTS GUSTING FROM 300 DEGREES.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS HEADING INTO THE WIND WHEN THE MANEUVER WAS INITIATED.  THE CFI INDICATED THEY WERE ABOUT 3 FEET AGL AND THAT THE AIRCRAFT STARTED THE BACKWARDS AND SIDEWAYS MOVEMENT JUST AFTER, OR AT THE SAME TIME THEY PULLED BACK ON THE POWER.  THE CFI EXPECTED THE SKID TO SLIDE, BUT IT DID NOT, AND CAUGHT THE SURFACE AND FLIPPED THEM OVER.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX98LA170](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA170), May 22, 1998: Robinson R22B (N2312N), San Luis Obispo, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor's inadequate compensation for wind conditions, and his failure to maintain aircraft control. Contributing was wind gusts.

## Other reports on N2312N (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19930525015159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930525015159A), May 25, 1993: Robsin R22BETA (N2312N), Los Angeles, CA, Substantial damage. Tail rotor struck a fence after swinging around when student tried to leave hover for forward flight.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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