# Accident 20110710013199A: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, West Palm Beach, FL, July 10, 2011

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 10, 2011, 09:10 local time
- Place: West Palm Beach, FL
- Airport: North County
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Climb
- Operating rules: Pilot school (Part 141)
- Operator: OH0S
- Location: 26.6831° N, 80.0956° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.6831&lon=-80.0956&mi=10
- Aircraft: N10786, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N10786-2020-08-28) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA (registry code 7640110, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (registry code 42139, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-320-b2c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22 BETA
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 250 total, 250 in this make and model, 40 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA11LA392](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11LA392) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110710013199A

## Narrative

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

INSTRUCTOR PILOT & STUDENT CONDUCTED PREFLIGHT ON R-22 HELICOPTER PRIOR TO FLIGHT THAT STARTED AT 0840 USING ROTOR-CRAFT FLIGHT MANUAL (RFM). AFTER PRACTICING SEVERAL NORMAL TAKE OFF'S AND QUICK-STOPS ON RUNWAY 8L. , AT APPROXIMATELY 0930, PILOTS INITATED A NORMAL TAKE OFF TO ENTER F45 AIRPORT FLIGHT PATTERN.  THEY BUILT UP AIRSPEED ON A NORMAL TAKEOFF AND CLIMB OUT, WHICH AT APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND AT 60 KIAS THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT YAWED TO THE RIGHT THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT CORRECTED WITH LEFT RUDDER WITHOUT ANY AIRCRAFT RESPONSE.  INSTRUCTOR PILOT THEN CONDUCTED AN AUTO ROTATION PROCEDURES TILL AIRCRAFT CRASHED. ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION FOUND THE AUX. FUEL CAP APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET FROM ORIGINAL TAKEOFF DEPARTURE WITH A ROTOR BLADE STUCK THROUGH THE CAP ASSEMBLY.  AT APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET HORTIZONTAL AND VERTICAL STAB WAS FOUND. APPROXIMATELY 450 FEET TWO PIECES OF ROTOR BLADE BLADES WERE FOUND. AT APPROXIMATELY THE 1,000 FEET MARKER AIRCRAFT FUSELAGE WRECKAGE WITH DEBRIS FOUND LOCATED IN GENERAL VICINITY.  INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE AUXILARY FUEL CAP WAS NOT RESTRAINED BY CHAIN OR ANY OTHER MECHANICAL DEVICE OTHER THAN THE  LATCHING TABS ON THE FUEL NECK.  ADDITIONALLY THERE WERE NO "POSITIVE ALIGNMENT MARKS" PAINTED ON FUEL CAP AND FUSELAGE FOR A VISUAL AID. THEREFORE THE  FUEL CAP DEPARTED HELICOPTER DUE TO VIBRATION OR NOT BEING TIGHTENED PROPERLY, HITTING ROTOR BLADE ASSEMBLY CAUSING A CHAIN REACTION OF SEVERAL ROTOR BLADES BEING BROKEN OFF.     DUE TO THE ROTOR ASSEMBLY IN-BALANCE THE VERTICAL AND HORTIZONTAL STABALIZER WAS DAMAGED AND DEPARTED AIRCRAFT.

## 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 ERA11LA392](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11LA392), Jul 10, 2011: Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta (N10786), West Palm Beach, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: Separation of the auxiliary fuel tank cap, which entered the tail rotor system. Contributing to the accident was the lack of a fuel tank cap restraint.

## Other reports on N10786 (1)

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

- [Accident 20200218002439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200218002439A), Feb 18, 2020: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA (N10786), Cotulla, TX, Destroyed. Pilot was about to fly a ranch survey. Aircraft engine was started and pilot was lifting off trailer for the intended flight, when aircraft entered a dynamic…

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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