What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On 09/21/2007 @ 0900 PST, the pilot privacy data omitted was taking his CFI check ride in a Robinson R-22 beta, s/n: 2187, N2341J. The pilot privacy data omitted was operating at an approximate altitude of 4,800 MSL/5,100 density and the following conditions: wind - calm/vis -12/clear/temp - 10C; alt - 0.10. Prior to the accident the pilot privacy data omitted was performing a descent to a mountain tip. At approximately 15-20 feet AGL the rotor RPM rapidly began decrease. Both the examiner and PIC attempted to roll the throttle to maximum, but the drag on the blades was too severe causing engine RPM degradation resulting in what appeared to be main rotor blade stall. The helicopter impacted the ground, bounced, and rolled onto the left side causing substantial damage to the aircraft and injuries to the PIC and examiner.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON 09/21/2007 @ 0900 PST, THE PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS TAKING HIS CFI CHECK RIDE IN A ROBINSON R-22 BETA, S/N: 2187, N2341J. THE PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS OPERATING AT AN APPROXIMATE ALTITUDE OF 4,800 MSL/5,100 DENSITY AND THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS: WIND - CALM/VIS -12/CLEAR/TEMP - 10C; ALT - 0.10. PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT THE PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS PERFORMING A DESCENT TO A MOUNTAIN TIP. AT APPROXIMATELY 15-20 FEET AGL THE ROTOR RPM RAPIDLY BEGAN DECREASE. BOTH THE EXAMINER AND PIC ATTEMPTED TO ROLL THE THROTTLE TO MAXIMUM, BUT THE DRAG ON THE BLADES WAS TOO SEVERE CAUSING ENGINE RPM DEGRADATION RESULTING IN WHAT APPEARED TO BE MAIN ROTOR BLADE STALL. THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED THE GROUND, BOUNCED, AND ROLLED ONTO THE LEFT SIDE CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT AND INJURIES TO THE PIC AND EXAMINER.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N2341J · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.