# Accident 19981210044229A: Robsin R22BETA, West Palm Beach, FL, December 10, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 10, 1998, 14:00 local time
- Place: West Palm Beach, FL
- Airport: Palm Beach County Park Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 26.5797° N, 80.0698° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.5797&lon=-80.0698&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2321X, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2321X-2000-12-08) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA (registry code 7640110, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBSIN R22BETA
- Reported engine: LYC O320B2C
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 320 total, 260 in this make and model, 45 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL99LA033](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL99LA033) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981210044229A

## Narrative

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

(.19)ON DECEMBER 10, 1998, AT 1400 EASTERN STANDARD TIME, A ROBINSON R-22, HELICOPTER, N2321X, COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND, ACCORDING TO THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR, DURING A PRACTICE AUTOROTATION, AT THE LANTANA AIRPORT, IN LANTANA, FLORIDA. THE INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT OPERATED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CFR PART 91 WITH NO FLIGHT PLAN FILED.  A REVIEW OF WEATHER DATA FROM THE NEAREST REPORTING FACILITY REVEALED THAT, VISUAL WEATHER CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.  ACCORDING TO THE DIRECTOR OF MAINTENANCE FOR THE OPERATOR, THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRFRAME.  THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND THE DUAL STUDENT WERE NOT INJURED.  THE INITIAL DEPARTURE TIME OF THE FLIGHT FROM LANTANA, FLORIDA, WAS NOT DETERMINED.  THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR REPORTED THAT HE AND THE DUAL STUDENT WERE CONDUCTING AUTOROTATION TRAINING.  THE DUAL STUDENT HAD COMPLETED SEVERAL POWER RECOVERY AUTOROTATIONS, AND THE SESSION HAD PROGRESSED TO THE POINT WHERE THE DUAL STUDENT WAS READY FOR A 180-DEGREE AUTOROTATION.  THE FLIGHT INSTUCTOR WAS DEMONSTRATING A 180-DEGREE AUTOROTATION, WITH POWER RECOVERY, WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED.  THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT HE DID NO T BELIEVE THAT THE ENGINE RESPONDED WHEN THE POWER WAS APPLIED FOR THE RECOVERY. (.4) THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WAS DEMONSTRATING A 180-DEGREE AUTOROTATION, WITH POWER RECOVERY, WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. AS THE HELICOPTER DESCENDED THROUGH 200 FEET THE LOW ROTOR RPM HORN SOUNDED. THE TACHOMETER WAS AT ABOUT 92 PERCENT.  THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR THEN ROLLED ON THE THROTTLE AND WENT DOWN ON THE COLLECTIVE SIMULTANEOUSLY.  THE HELICOPTER CONTACTED THE GROUND IN A LEVEL ATTITUDE.  THE INSTRUCTOR ATTEMPTED A SHALLOW FLARE, AND CUSHIONED WITH COLLECTIVE.  THE AIRCRAFT SLID IN GRASS, THE RIGHT SKID DUG INTO THE GROUND AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER.  NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRPLANE WERE DISCOVERED DURING THE WRECKAGE EXAMINATION.

## 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 ATL99LA033](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL99LA033), Dec 10, 1998: Robinson R-22B (N2321X), Lantana, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper use of the flight controls during an attempted autorotation.

## Other reports on N2321X (2)

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

- [Accident 19950507009729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950507009729A), May 7, 1995: Robsin R22BETA (N2321X), Miami, FL, Substantial damage. Student practice on autorotation with power recovery. Allowed rotor RPM decay. Impacted runway. CFI failed to act.
- [Accident 19921005045269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19921005045269A), Oct 5, 1992: Robsin R22BETA (N2321X), Naples, FL, Substantial damage. Slow pass downwind for photos. Entered loss of tail rotor effectiveness and spun into trees.

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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