# Accident 20001003034239A: Robsin R22BETA, Long Beach, CA, October 3, 2000

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 3, 2000, 09:32 local time
- Place: Long Beach, CA
- Airport: Long Beach - Daugherty Field
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Sfl Autorotation
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.8090° N, 118.1808° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8090&lon=-118.1808&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8340N (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: ROBSIN R22BETA
- Reported engine: LYC O360J2A
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,500 total, 2,300 in this make and model, 85 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX01LA002](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA002) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001003034239A

## Narrative

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

(-23) INSTRUCTOR PILOT WAS INSTRUCTING STUDENT HOW TO PERFORM HOVERING AUTOROTATIONS. ON THE 4TH OR 5TH ATTEMPT TO PAD 3 AT THE LONG BEACH AIRPORT THE HELICOPTER DESCENDED RAPIDLY FROM 2 TO 3 FEET WITH A SLIGHT AFT LEFT DRIFT. THE HELICOPTER CAUGHT THE LEFT SKID AND ENTERED DYNAMIC ROLLOVER. THE HELICOPTER CAME TO REST ON IT'S LEFT SIDE WITH SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE ROTOR SYSTEM, FIREWALL, TAILBOOM, AND CABIN SECTION. FLIGHT CONTROLS WERE CHECKED FOR CONTINUITY AND CHECKED OK. HELICOPTER HAS FUEL IN BOTH TANKS. PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS PRIOR TO ACCIDENT. (.4) DURING A DUAL INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT LESSON, THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR DIRECTED HIS STUDENT TO PERFORM A PRACTICE AUTOROTATION. BOTH HE AND HIS STUDENT WERE HANDLING THE FLIGHT CONTROLS. THE CFI DIRECTED THAT THE STUDENT ENTER THE AUTOROTATION WHILE HOVERING BETWEEN 2 AND 3 FEET ABOVE THE DIRT FIELD. THE STUDENT RESPONDED BY RAPIDLY LOWERING THE COLLECTIVE, AND THE HELICOPTER DESCENDED. BEFORE THE CFI COULD REGAIN CONTROL, THE HELICOPTER'S LEFT SKID TOUCHED DOWN IN THE DIRT AND "DUG IN." THEREAFTER, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES IMPACTED THE GROUND, AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER ONTO ITS SIDE. DURING                THE 5-MINUTE PERIOD THAT PRECEDED THE ACCIDENT, THE STUDENT HAD ACCOMPLISHED THE TRAINING MANEUVER WITHOUT DEMONSTRATING ANY UNUSUAL PROBLEMS. DURING THE PRECEDING 90-DAY PERIOD, THE CFI GAVE 180 HOURS OF INSTRUCTION TO VARIOUS STUDENTS IN THE ROBINSON HELICOPTER. HIS TOTAL DUAL INSTRUCTION EXPERIENCE IN THE ROBINSON WAS 1,800 HOURS.

## 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 LAX01LA002](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA002), Oct 3, 2000: Robinson R22 Beta (N8340N), Long Beach, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The dual student's improper use of the collective and the flight instructor's inadequate supervision during the practice hovering autorotation maneuver. A factor was the underlying soft dirt terrain,…

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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