What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23)On March 18, 2008, at approximately 1045 MDT, N3055N, a Robinson R-22 helicopter, was substantially damaged in a hard landing at the Las Vegas, new Mexico municipal airport (lvs). The aircraft was being operated as a training flight under 14 CFR part 91. The certified flight instructor stated that the student pilot was performing a 180 degree autorotation and that at 300 to 350 feet above ground level he instructed the student to roll on power. Both pilots applied full power but were unable to arrest the descent before striking the ground. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time. A VFR flight plan was not filed.
As the FAA filed it
(-23)ON MARCH 18, 2008, AT APPROXIMATELY 1045 MDT, N3055N, A ROBINSON R-22 HELICOPTER, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED IN A HARD LANDING AT THE LAS VEGAS, NEW MEXICO MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (LVS). THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING OPERATED AS A TRAINING FLIGHT UNDER 14 CFR PART 91. THE CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT THE STUDENT PILOT WAS PERFORMING A 180 DEGREE AUTOROTATION AND THAT AT 300 TO 350 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL HE INSTRUCTED THE STUDENT TO ROLL ON POWER. BOTH PILOTS APPLIED FULL POWER BUT WERE UNABLE TO ARREST THE DESCENT BEFORE STRIKING THE GROUND. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS EXISTED AT THE TIME. A VFR FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.