20030706020879A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Robsin R22 BETA · Kamuela, HI · July 6, 2003

Date: July 6, 2003 · 14:30 local
Place: Kamuela, HI
Airport: Waimea Kohala Airport
Phase of flight: Sfl Autorotation
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N8318A
NTSB investigation: NTSBLAX03CA227
Reported as: Robsin R22BETA
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 815 total805 in this make and model121 in the last 90 days

N8318ARegistration cancelled Nov 19, 2003 · Robinson Helicopter R22 BETAS/N 2485 · Built 1994 Airframe modelRobinson Helicopter R22 BETA Engine modelLycoming 0-320 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) The pilot in command stated that while conducting a 180 degree autorotation, at about 100 feet above the ground and indicating 70 knots, he felt a sudden increase in their rate of descent. At that point he called for a go-around and assisted on the controls by adding throttle. The helicopter did not respond to the corrective action and impacted the ground in a level attitude causing substantial damage.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) THE PILOT IN COMMAND STATED THAT WHILE CONDUCTING A 180 DEGREE AUTOROTATION, AT ABOUT 100 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND AND INDICATING 70 KNOTS, HE FELT A SUDDEN INCREASE IN THEIR RATE OF DESCENT. AT THAT POINT HE CALLED FOR A GO-AROUND AND ASSISTED ON THE CONTROLS BY ADDING THROTTLE. THE HELICOPTER DID NOT RESPOND TO THE CORRECTIVE ACTION AND IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A LEVEL ATTITUDE CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB LAX03CA227Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportWaimea, HIThe certified flight instructor (CFI) delayed remedial action in response to the excessive descent rate initiated by the student during the practice autorotation. Also causal, was the CFI's inadequate supervision of the student during the flight. A possible…Jul 7, 2003 · Substantial damage