# Accident 20121101024929A: Robinson Helicopter Company R22, Alexander City, AL, November 1, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 1, 2012, 15:45 local time
- Place: Alexander City, AL
- Airport: Thomas Russell Field
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.9089° N, 85.9578° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9089&lon=-85.9578&mi=10
- Aircraft: N231TM, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N231TM) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R22 (registry code 7640102, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22) (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 COMPANY R22
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O-320-B2C
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 1,165 total, 1,165 in this make and model, 553 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA13LA045](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13LA045) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121101024929A

## Narrative

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

ON NOVEMBER 1, 2012, AT 1645, CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME A ROBINSON HELICOPTER, R22, REGISTERED TO CASABLANCA HELICOPTER, LLC., DEPARTED ALX ON RUNWAY 36 HEADING FOR 16J, AND CRASHED ON THE AIRPORT PROPERTY.   THE COMMERCIAL-RATED PILOT AND COPILOT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES, AND THE HELICOPTER INCURRED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE CO-PILOT WAS AT THE FLIGHT CONTROLS DURING THE DEPARTURE, AND AS SOON AS THE HELICOPTER STARTED ITS CLIMB AND LEFT TURN ON A HEADING WEST OF THE AIRPORT, CROSSWIND, SUDDENLY, SOMETHING WENT WRONG WITH THE HELICOPTER AND IT STARTED TO SHAKE. "I TOOK THE FLIGHT CONTROLS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING, AND WHAT WAS CAUSING THE HELICOPTER TO SHAKE.  AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES OF MANUEVERING THE HELICOPTER DURING THE DESCENT FROM 300 FEET AGL TO ABOUT 100 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, I ESTABLISHED A HOVER AND IMMEDIATELY INITIATED AN AUTOROTATION TO THE GROUND.  I DID NOT FEEL THE HELICOPTER FLARED AT ALL".  IT IMPACTED THE GROUND WITH THE NOSE DOWN, ROLLED AND CAME TO REST ON ITS LEFT SIDE.EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THE FLOATS STRAP (4 PLACES) WAS ATTACHED AND THE FLOATS WERE INFLATED. THE LEFT LANDING GEAR STRUT WAS BROKEN FROM IMPACT DAMAGE. ONE OF THE COUNTERWEIGHTS NEAR THE SWASHPLATE WAS BROKEN OFF FROM IMPACT DAMAGE. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES DISPLAYED DELAMINATION AND IMPACT DAMAGE. THE ENGINE COOLING FAN ROTATED WITHOUT OBSTRUCTION, THE CONDITION OF V-BELTS AND THE ALTERNATOR BELT SHOWED SIGNATURE MARKS FROM ROTATION WITH THE ENGINE POWER ON AFTER THE CRASH.  THE ENGINE VALVES OPERATED NORMALLY; THE DRIVESHAFT, SPRAG CLUTCH, AND UPPER ACTUATOR BEARING ROTATED NORMALLY.  TAIL BOOM AND TAIL ROTOR RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL IMPACT DAMAGE. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES AND MAST ASSEMBLY SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL IMPACT DAMAGE, MAIN ROTOR PITCH LINK BEARING HAD EXCESSIVE PLAY - THE .30 TO .40  OF BEARING PLAY CAUSED A HIGH FREQUENCY VIBRATION IN THE ROTOR SYSTEM. THE TRANSMISSION MOUNT AND ENGINE MOUNTS SUSTAINED MINOR IMPACT DAMAGE.

## 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 ERA13LA045](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13LA045), Nov 1, 2012: Robinson Helicopter R22 (N231TM), Alexander City, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s delayed decision to initiate an autorotation and her subsequent improper conduct of the autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing, after the helicopter started vibrating for reasons…

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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