# Accident 20090920017849A: Robsin R22BETA, September 20, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 20, 2009, 13:09 local time
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: Pilot school (Part 141)
- Operator: LJES
- Location: 45.8100° N, 123.1783° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.8100&lon=-123.1783&mi=10
- Aircraft: N956SH, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N956SH-2012-03-26) (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
- Reported engine: LYC O320B2C
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 988 total, 930 in this make and model, 177 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR09FA459](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09FA459) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090920017849A

## Narrative

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

WITNESSES (FATHER & SON) STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT SEEMED TO BE PRACTICING; A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD NOT USUAL FOR THE AIRCRAFT; (WITNESSES FREQUENTLY OBSERVE THIS TYPE AIRCRAFT IN THE AREA); THE AIRCRAFT MADE A QUICK ROTATIONAL TURN, NOSED DOWN, WOBBLED, TUMBLED AND HIT THE GROUND AND BEGAN BURNING: AIRCRAFT DIRECTION OF ROTATION COULD NOT BE SPECIFIED BY WITNESSES.  AN ADDITIONAL WITNESS, WITH HELICOPTER EXPERIENCE, STATED THAT HE HAD BEEN OBSERVING THE AIRCRAFT PRACTICING 4 OR 5 POWER RECOVERY AUTOROTATIONS; WITNESS, WHO LIVES IN GASTON, OR APRX 2 MILES SOUTH, DID NOT SEE THE ACCIDENT; ON SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED THE GROUND VERTICALLY IN AN UPRIGHT CONDITION, SLIGHTLY LEFT SKID LOW; FUEL TANKS BURST, A LOCALIZED FIRE INSUED AND DEMOLISHED THE AIRCRAFT EXCEPT FOR THE TAIL BOOM AFT OF THE TAILBOOM TO FUSELAGE ATTACHMENT POINT; NO FORWARD FUSELAGE MOMENTUM EVIDENCED BY THE CONFINED AREA OF THE FIRE INCLUDING LACK OF MOVEMENT EVIDENCE ON THE GROUND; DAMAGE TO OVERHANGING FOLAGE WAS VERTICAL IN NATURE; LITTLE OR NO MAIN ROTOR RPM; NO INDICATION OF BLADES STRIKES ON THE GROUND; MAIN ROTOR BLADES WERE BENT UP 90 DEG APRX 18 INCHES OUTBOARD OF MAIN ROTOR GRIPS; APPEARED THAT THERE WAS NO TAIL ROTOR RPM EVIDENCED BY THE LACK OF ANY ROTOTIONAL DAMAGE; TAIL ROTOR DRIVE INTACT WITH THE FORWARD FLEX COUPLING TORN AWAY FROM THE FREE WHEELING UNIT; THE LOUD NOISE REPORTED BY WITNESSES COULD NOT BE DETERMINED ON SITE; FURTHER NTSB TEARDOWN TO FOLLOW; ONSITE CONTROL CONTINUITY CONFIRMED TO THE EXTENT WHERE FIRE HAD DESTROYED THE FLIGHT CONTROLS, ESPECIALLY FROM THE TRANSMISSION DECK UPWARD TO THE SWASH PLATE.  2 OCCUPANTS (CFI & STUDENT); NO SURVIVORS AIRCRAFT DESTROYED.

## 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 WPR09FA459](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09FA459), Sep 20, 2009: Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta (N956SH), Forest Grove, OR, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The flight crew’s failure to maintain adequate main rotor speed while maneuvering, which resulted in a main rotor blade stall and an uncontrolled descent into terrain.

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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