# Accident 20021120034919A: Robsin R22, Stjacob, IL, November 20, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 20, 2002, 14:30 local time
- Place: Stjacob, IL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.7750° N, 89.8092° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7750&lon=-89.8092&mi=10
- Aircraft: N559DD, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N559DD) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R22 (registry code 7640102, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O-360 series (registry code 41575, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBSIN R22
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI03FA025](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03FA025) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021120034919A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THIS WAS A DUAL INSTRUMENT TRAINING FLIGHT OPERATED IN VMC CONDITIONS DEPARTING ST. LOUIS DOWNTOWN AIRPORT (CPS) ENROUTE TO ST. LOUIS REGIONAL AIRPORT (ALN) TO PRACTICE INSTRUMENT APPROACH PROCEDURES. THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN LEVEL CRUISE FLIGHT AT 2500 MSL WHEN IT BEGAN TO SHUDDER. THE CREW HEARD A LOUD BANG AND EXPERIENCED A NOSE-DOWN PITCHING MOMENT. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR THEN TOOK THE CONTROLS AND INITIATED AN AUTO-ROTATION AND SETTLED INTO A FIELD. UPON FLAIRING THE AIRCRAFT THE CREW DISCOVERED THEY HAD NO TAILROTOR CONTROL, THE AIRCRAFT YAWED 90 DEGREES TO THE LEFT BEFORE TOUCHING DOWN. NO INJURIES OCCURED AND UPON DEPARTING THE AIRCRAFT THE CREWMEMBERS NOTED THAT THE FAN AND FAN SHROUD WERE MISSING FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THE MAIN ROTOR MADE CONTACT WITH THE TAIL BOOM APPROX. 18 INCHES FROM TAIL ROTOR. IT WAS DISCOVERED THE FOLLOWING MORNING THAT THE TAIL ROTOR CONTROL ROD WAS SEVERED BELIEVED TO OCCURED WHEN THE FAN ASSEMBLY DEPARTED.

## 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 CHI03FA025](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03FA025), Nov 20, 2002: Robinson R22 (N559DD), St. Jacob, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: Fatigue fracture of the clutch assembly fan shaft and the resulting complete loss of power to the rotor drive system. A contributing factor was the loss of tail rotor authority due to the secondary…

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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