# Accident 20020916038599A: Robsin R22BETA, Frederick, MD, September 16, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 16, 2002
- Place: Frederick, MD
- Airport: Frederick Municipal Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Simulated Forced Landing/Tkof
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: YSCA
- Location: 39.4167° N, 77.3750° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4167&lon=-77.3750&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2549R, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2549R-2003-06-04) (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
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,200 total, 850 in this make and model, 240 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC02LA191](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02LA191) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020916038599A

## Narrative

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

(-23) INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT WERE TO DO A SIMULATED ENGINE FAILURE DURING TAKE-OFF. THERE WAS A THOROUGH BRIEFING BETWEEN THE TWO PRIOR TO EXECUTION. THE HELICOPTER TOOK OFF OVER TAXIWAY D AND THE INSTRUCTOR ANNOUNCED THE ENGINE FAILURE PRIOR TO ROLLING OFF THE THROTTLE AT APPROXIMATELY 70-80 FT. ABOVE THE SURFACE IN A LEVEL ATTITUDE AT 55-60 KIAS. THE STUDENT IMMEDIATELY LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE, APPLIED AFT CYCLIC, PREVENTED ANY YAW WITH RIGHT PEDAL, AND ROLLED THE THROTTLE PAST THE DETENT. DESPITE THE BRIEFING THAT FORWARD CYCLIC TO INCREASE FORWARD AIRSPEED TO 65 KIAS WOULD BE REQUIRED, THE STUDENT BELIEVES THAT MUSCLE MEMORY TOOK OVER WITH DECREASED COLLECTIVE, AFT CYCLIC AND RIGHT PEDAL INITIATING ACTIONS PRACTICED EARLIER IN THE FLIGHT. THE STUDENT BELIEVES HE PULLED UP ON THE COLLECTIVE TO PREVENT SETTLING JUST BEFORE HE REMEMBERED HE WAS SUPPOSED TO APPLY FORWARD CYCLIC TO INCREASE THE AIRSPEED TO 65 KIAS IN ORDER TO HAVE AN EFFECTIVE FLARE AT THE END OF AUTOROTATION. THEY BELIEVE THIS CAUSED THE MAIN ROTOR RPM'S TO DETERIORATE TO THE POINT OF MAIN ROTOR STALL. BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF COLLECTIVE APPLIED DURING A QUICK STOP MANEUVER THE INSTRUCTOR WAS UNABLE TO OVERRIDE THE STUDENT'S HOLE ON THE COLLECTIVE. THE AIRCRAFT CAME DOWN IN A LEVEL ATTITUDE BUT UNKNOWN FORWARD AIRSPEED. AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO CONDUCT A CYCLIC FLARE NEAR THE SURFACE. DESCENDING VELOCITY COULD NOT BE ARRESTED AND FORWARD CYCLIC INPUT WAS USED TO LEVEL THE AIRCRAFT AND PEDALS TO KEEP THE NOSE POINTED FORWARD. THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED THE TAXIWAY WITH SOME FORWARD TRAVEL. THE TAILCONE WAS PROBABLY SEVERED BY THE SLOWLY SPINNING MAIN ROTOR. THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED UP AND YAWED TO THE LEFT. THE RIGHT SKID HEEL CAUGHT THE GRASS AND SNAPPED OFF THE SKID. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST ON THE EDGE OF THE TAXIWAY AND PARTIALLY IN THE GRASS. THE INSTRUCTOR TURNED OFF THE FUEL AND ELECTRICAL AND HE AND THE STUDENT EXITED THE AIRCRAFT.

## 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 NYC02LA191](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02LA191), Sep 16, 2002: Robinson R-22B (N2549R), Frederick, MD, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's failure to maintain adequate rotor rpm, and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action. A factor was the manufacturer's inadequate written guidance regarding simulated engine…

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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