# Accident 20130102000319A: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, Tampa, FL, January 2, 2013 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: January 2, 2013, 18:00 local time - Place: Tampa, FL - Airport: Peter O Knight - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 27.9156° N, 82.4494° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9156&lon=-82.4494&mi=10 - Aircraft: N345VH, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N345VH-2015-05-11) (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: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22 BETA - Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES - People aboard: 2 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Other injuries: 0 - Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor - Pilot flight hours: 807 total, 704 in this make and model, 172 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA13LA104](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13LA104) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130102000319A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. UPON ARRIVAL I FOUND THE AIRCRAFT, A ROBINSON R-22 BETA N345VH, JUST OFF OF THE LEFT SIDE OF RUNWAY 22 LAYING ON ITS RIGHT SIDE APPROXIMATELY 1000 FEET DOWN THE RUNWAY. I INTERVIEWED THE PILOT/CFI AND SHE STATED THAT SHE PICKED UP HER STUDENT FROM CLEARWATER, FLORIDA (PIE) FOR AN INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT WITH INTENTION OF TRANSITIONING THROUGH CLASS B AIRSPACE TO KTPF FOR APPROACH AND AUTO ROTATIONS AS PART OF THE LESSON. THE PILOT/CFI STATED THAT DURING THE SECOND AUTO ROTATION, APPROACH WAS NORMAL, SHE FLARED AT 40 FEET TO BLEED OFF AIRSPEED THEN BROUGHT THE THROTTLE ON BUT THE RPM CONTINUED TO DECAY, THE AIRCRAFT THEN IMPACTED THE GROUND, BOUNCED AND ROLLED ONTO ITS RIGHT SIDE AND CAME TO AN IMMEDIATE STOP. THE PILOT/CFI STATED THAT SHE THOUGHT THERE IS TOO MUCH ROTATIONAL PLAY IN THE LEFT POSITION THROTTLE AND SHE HAD REPORTED IT TWICE TO THE OPERATORS MECHANIC. SHE STATED IN BOTH INSTANCES THAT THE MECHANIC TOLD HER THAT IT WAS NORMAL. NO WITNESSES WERE REPORTED. I INSPECTED THE AIRCRAFT AND RECORDED THE DAMAGE VIA PHOTOGRAPHS. IT APPEARS THAT THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STILL ATTACHED BUT DESTROYED. FUEL WAS DRAINING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE TANK FILLER CAP. THE TAIL BOOM IS CRUSHED AT THE FUSELAGE ATTACH POINT. THE TAIL HORIZONTAL STABILIZER IS BENT APPROXIMATELY 90 DEGREES. THE DOORS WERE PREVIOUSLY REMOVED FOR THIS FLIGHT. 01/03/2013 INSPECTED THE AIRCRAFT IN DAYLIGHT TO DETERMINE EXTENT OF DAMAGE. AIRCRAFT WAS PLACED IN HANGAR UPRIGHT. FURTHER INSPECTION DISCOVERED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE FIREWALL, EXTERNAL FUSELAGE, AND TAIL BOOM. LANDING SKIDS ARE SLIGHTLY BENT SO THAT THE LEFT SIDE SKID FORWARD END DOES NOT CONTACT THE GROUND. 01/08/2013 INSPECTED ROTATIONAL PLAY IN THE LEFT POSITION THROTTLE AT THE DIRECTION OF THE ROBINSON MANUFACTURER REPRESENTATIVE. HE STATED THAT BY MY DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAY, IT WAS NOT AN UN AIRWORTHY CONDITION. 01/08/2013 REPORTED ALL FINDINGS TO THE ASSIGNED NTSB INVESTIGATOR. HE CONCURRED WITH MY FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATION TO RELEASE THE AIRCRAFT TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY. IT APPEARS THAT THE PILOT ALLLOWED THE ROTOR AND ENGINE RPM TO DECAY BEYOND A POINT THAT WAS RECOVERABLE, THEREFORE LOSING THE ABILITY TO CONTROL THE AIRCRAFT. 01/08/2013 AIRCRAFT WAS SALVAGED BY QUALITY AIRCRAFT SALVAGE AND MOVED TO THEIR FACILITY IN GROVELAND, FLORIDA. ## 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 ERA13LA104](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13LA104), Jan 2, 2013: Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta (N345VH), Tampa, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot’s delayed throttle application during the practice autorotation and the flight instructor’s lack of immediate remedial action, which resulted in a hard landing. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.