# Accident 20071124831909A: Robsin R22BETA, Suffolk, VA, November 24, 2007

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 24, 2007, 13:00 local time
- Place: Suffolk, VA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.8800° N, 76.2142° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.8800&lon=-76.2142&mi=10
- Aircraft: N442FA, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N442FA) (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: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 800 total, 300 in this make and model, 7 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC08LA043](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08LA043) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20071124831909A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON NOVEMBER 24, 2007, AT 1300 LOCAL TIME, N442FA, A ROBINSON R22 BETA HELICOPTER WAS ON A ROUTINE PLEASURE FLIGHT PERFORMING CIRCLING MANEUVERS AT ABOUT 600 FT. AFTER A FEW TURNS THE PILOT NOTICED THE CLUTCH LIGHT ON. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AFTER APPROXIMATELY 5 SECONDS OF THE LIGHT BEING ILLUMINATED, HE REACHED DOWN AND PULLED THE CLUTCH CIRCUIT BREAKER. AT THAT SAME INSTANT, THE ENGINE'S RPM SHARPLY INCREASED AND THE MAIN ROTOR RPM ALARM SOUNDED. HE IMMEDIATELY LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE AND ROLLED ON THE THROTTLE IN AN ATTEMPT TO INCREASE THE ROTOR RPM. WHEN THAT ATTEMPT FAILED, HE EXECUTED AN AUTOROTATION AND FLEW THE AIRCRAFT TO THE GROUND. THE HARD LANDING IN A FIELD CAUSED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT. ON INSPECTION THE ROTOR DRIVE BELTS WERE FOUND OFF OF THE ENGINE AND ROTOR DRIVE SHEAVES. THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO THE PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT.

## 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 NYC08LA043](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08LA043), Nov 24, 2007: Robinson R22 (N442FA), Suffolk, VA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The V-drive belts' rolling off the sheaves for undetermined reasons, resulting in a loss of power to the rotor system, and the pilot's failure to maintain adequate rotor rpm during the autorotation,…

## Other reports on N442FA (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20021122034719I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021122034719I), Nov 22, 2002: Robsin R22BETA (N442FA), St Louis, MO, Minor damage. (-23) Student pilot was on a supervised solo. His flight instructor was daniel Louis neunebel, holder of flight instructor certificate number 496508667. The…

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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