What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(.19) On January 5, 2002, at 0900 central standard time, a Robinson R22 helicopter, N215WW, operated by ww helicopters, sustained substantial damage when the left, rear cross tube collapsed during landing. The 14 CFR part 91 instructional flight departed East Troy Municipal Airport (57C), East Troy, Wisconsin, at 0800 on a local training flight. The certificated flight instructor (CFI) and private pilot receiving instruction were practicing "engine failure in a hover" maneuvers. When the helicopter's skid touched down on the fourth practice maneuver, the helicopter's left, rear cross tube collapsed. The aircraft rolled counterclockwise and the main rotor blades impacted the asphalt pavement. The pilots were uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. (-23) during instructional operation the flight instructor and student were practicing hovering auto rotations 3 to 4 feet above the taxiway that parallels rwy 08/26. While descending to the surface during the fourth exercise of the day the left landing gear structure collapsed upon touchdown causing the aircraft to roll counterclockwise. As a result of this main rotor bla des struck the asphalt pavement with further damage occuring to the rotor head and tail boom structure. Investigation indicates the rear cross tube fractured at the angle fitting that ties the cross tube to the skid structure. With subsequent failure of the forward fitting at the same location.
As the FAA filed it
(.19) ON JANUARY 5, 2002, AT 0900 CENTRAL STANDARD TIME, A ROBINSON R22 HELICOPTER, N215WW, OPERATED BY WW HELICOPTERS, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN THE LEFT, REAR CROSS TUBE COLLAPSED DURING LANDING. THE 14 CFR PART 91 INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT DEPARTED EAST TROY MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (57C), EAST TROY, WISCONSIN, AT 0800 ON A LOCAL TRAINING FLIGHT. THE CERTIFICATED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR (CFI) AND PRIVATE PILOT RECEIVING INSTRUCTION WERE PRACTICING "ENGINE FAILURE IN A HOVER" MANEUVERS. WHEN THE HELICOPTER'S SKID TOUCHED DOWN ON THE FOURTH PRACTICE MANEUVER, THE HELICOPTER'S LEFT, REAR CROSS TUBE COLLAPSED. THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED COUNTERCLOCKWISE AND THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES IMPACTED THE ASPHALT PAVEMENT. THE PILOTS WERE UNINJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. (-23) DURING INSTRUCTIONAL OPERATION THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT WERE PRACTICING HOVERING AUTO ROTATIONS 3 TO 4 FEET ABOVE THE TAXIWAY THAT PARALLELS RWY 08/26. WHILE DESCENDING TO THE SURFACE DURING THE FOURTH EXERCISE OF THE DAY THE LEFT LANDING GEAR STRUCTURE COLLAPSED UPON TOUCHDOWN CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO ROLL COUNTERCLOCKWISE. AS A RESULT OF THIS MAIN ROTOR BLA DES STRUCK THE ASPHALT PAVEMENT WITH FURTHER DAMAGE OCCURING TO THE ROTOR HEAD AND TAIL BOOM STRUCTURE. INVESTIGATION INDICATES THE REAR CROSS TUBE FRACTURED AT THE ANGLE FITTING THAT TIES THE CROSS TUBE TO THE SKID STRUCTURE. WITH SUBSEQUENT FAILURE OF THE FORWARD FITTING AT THE SAME LOCATION.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.