# Accident 20090208003989A: Robsin R22BETA, Encinitas, CA, February 8, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 8, 2009, 08:05 local time
- Place: Encinitas, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.0506° N, 117.2636° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Encinitas, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0506&lon=-117.2636&mi=10
- Aircraft: N588LE, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N588LE) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA (registry code 7640110, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O-360 series (registry code 41575, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBSIN R22BETA
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,200 total, 400 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090208003989A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON THE ABOVE DATE, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS GIVING ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ A PRE-HIRE CHECK FLIGHT PRIOR TO HIRING HIM AS A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR FOR ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ FLIGHT SCHOOL.  WHILE FLYING AT APPROXIMATELY 700 FEET MSL, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ ENTERED A PRACTICE AUTOROTATION AT APPPROXIMATELY 80 KNOTS.  DURING THE FLARE, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ ROLLED ON THE THROTTLE AND THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND.  AT APPROXIMATELY 4-5 KTS ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ TOUCHED DOWN ON THE BEACH.  THE HELICOPTER LANDED ON WET SAND WHICH STOPPED THE FORWARD MOVEMENT OF THE HELICOPTER.  WHEN THE HELICOPTER ROCKED FORWARD, THE SLOW TURNING MAIN ROTOR FLEXED DOWN AND CHOPPED OFF THE TAIL BOOM AND TAIL ROTOR ASSEMBY APPROAXIMATELY THREE FEET FROM THE AFT END.  THE ROBINSON R-22 PILOT OPERATING HANDBOOK (POH) HAS A CAUTION IN SECTION 4-9 THAT ADDRESSES THROTTLE CHIP DURING PRACTICE AUTOROTATIONS AND STATES THAT INADVERTENT ENGINE STOPPAGE COULD OCCUR.  ROBINSON SAFETY NOTICES SN-27 "SURPRISE THROTTLE CHOPS" AND SN-38" PRACTICE AUTOROTATIONS CAUSE MANY TRAINING ACCIDENTS" ALSO DISCUSS THIS ISSUE.  SECTION 4-11 ADDRESSES THE CONDITIONS CONDUCTIVE TO CARBURETOR ICING WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.  NO MECHANICAL ENGINE FAULTS WERE DISCOVERED.

## NTSB investigation

None matched to this report by aircraft and date. Search the NTSB's own records: https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/basic-search

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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