# Accident 20161115024409A: Robinson Helicopter Company R22, West Chester, PA, November 15, 2016

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 15, 2016, 15:00 local time
- Place: West Chester, PA
- Airport: Brandywine
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.9900° N, 75.5819° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9900&lon=-75.5819&mi=10
- Aircraft: N306RL, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N306RL-2020-12-04) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R22 (registry code 7640102, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R22
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 5,850 total, 3,500 in this make and model, 115 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA17LA046](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA046) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161115024409A

## Narrative

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

THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WAS DEMOSTRATING CROSSWIND STRAIGHT IN AUTOROTATIONS WITH HIS STUDENT. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR STARTED HIS FLARE AT APPROXIMATELY MID FIELD AT 70 KTS.

DURING THE FLARE TO LEVEL OFF A LARGE LEFT PEDAL INPUT WAS INITIATED BY THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT TO CORRECT FOR A LEFT CROSSWIND GUST.

THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO FLOAT DOWN RUNWAY IN A LEVEL ATTITUDE. THE INSTRUCTOR EXPERIENCED  SEVERAL FULL LEFT PEDAL INPUTS WITH A LOW RPM WARNING HORN AND CONTINUED DOWN THE REMAINING LAST THIRD OF THE RUNWAY DRIFTING RIGHT (WIND 330/35011G14).

THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR ALSO EXPERIENCED LIGHT TO MODERATE WIND SHEAR. AS THE AIRCRAFT APPROACHED THE LAST 1000 FEET OF RUNWAY AT THE APPROACH END OF RUNWAY 27 A GUST OF WIND  CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO MAKE A UNCOMMANDED CLIMB GAINING 30 FEET AGL IN ALTITUDE. THE LOW RPM HORN AGAIN SOUNDED AND THE AIRCRAFT RAPIDLY DECENDED FROM 30 FEET AND CONTINUED TO DRIFT RIGHT.

THE AIRCRAFT SKIDS MADE LIGHT CONTACT AT THE HOLD SHORT LINE OF RUNWAY 27 WHILE STILL DRIFTING RIGHT.  THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED SEVERAL FEET IMPACTING THE GROUND HARD IN THE GRASSY AREA OFF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT SKIDDED TO THE LEFT ROLLING OVER ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT COMING TO REST.THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. BOTH PILOTS EVACUATED AIRCRAFT WITH NO INJURIES

## 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 ERA17LA046](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA046), Nov 15, 2016: Robinson Helicopter R22 (N306RL), West Chester, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor's decision to continue the practice autorotation in known gusting wind conditions, which resulted in a hard landing and roll over.

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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