# Accident 20170721009129A: Robinson Helicopter Company R22, Bozeman, MT, July 21, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 21, 2017, 10:47 local time
- Place: Bozeman, MT
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Other, Specify
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 45.7775° N, 111.1519° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.7775&lon=-111.1519&mi=10
- Aircraft: N28VH, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N28VH-2022-10-18) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R22 (registry code 7640102, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O-360 series (registry code 41575, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R22
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O-360 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 302 total, 182 in this make and model, 70 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA17CA434](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA434) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170721009129A

## Narrative

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

THE CFI WAS GIVING INSTRUCTION TO A STUDENT ON AUTO ROTATIONS.

TWO 90 DEGREE AUTOROTATIONS WERE COMPLETED SUCCESSFULLY, FOLLOWED BY TWO SUCCESSFUL 180 DEGREE AUTOROTATIONS.  A THIRD RIGHT 180 AUTOROTATION WAS BEING DEMONSTRATED AND THE ROTOR RPM WENT ABOVE THE GREEN.  THE COLLECTIVE WAS PULLED UP AND BROUGHT THE RPM BACK TO THE GREEN RANGE. DURING THE TURN THE NOSE ATTITUDE BECAME TOO LOW, INCREASING THE DESCENT RATE. WHEN THE TURN WAS COMPLETED, THE NOSE ATTITUDE WAS LOW AND RATE OF DESCENT WAS HIGH, THROTTLE WAS ADDED TO ATTEMPT A POWER ON AUTOROTATION RECOVERY.  JUST BEFORE IMPACT THE PILOT APPLIED FORWARD CYCLIC AND FULL COLLECTIVE.

THE HELICOPTER STRUCK THE GROUND AND DUE TO RELATIVELY HIGH FORWARD AIRSPEED, SLID FORWARD TO A STOP.

ONE MAIN ROTOR BLADE STRUCK AND DAMAGED THE TAIL BOOM. ONLY ONE MAIN ROTOR BLADE HAD MARKS ON IT FROM THE BOOM STRIKE.

THE MAST DID LIGHTLY IMPACT THE FUSELAGE SKIN ON THE TOP OF THE HELICOPTER.

ALL CONTROLS OPERATED NORMALLY.

## 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 GAA17CA434](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA434), Jul 21, 2017: Robinson Helicopter R22 (N28VH), Bozeman, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor’s unstabilized autorotation, 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.

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