# Accident 20171005014319A: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, North Las Vegas, NV, October 5, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 5, 2017, 07:30 local time
- Place: North Las Vegas, NV
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: 1ENS
- Location: 36.1989° N, 115.1175° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of North Las Vegas, NV, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1989&lon=-115.1175&mi=10
- Aircraft: N878MC, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N878MC) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA (registry code 7640110, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (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 R22 BETA
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O-360 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 20 total, 20 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20171005014319A

## Narrative

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

A ROBINSON R-44 HELICOPTER OPERATING UNDER CFR PART 91 SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING A HARD LANDING AT THE NORTH LAS VEGAS AIRPORT.  THE HELICOPTER WAS ON A FLIGHT INSTRUCTION FLIGHT WITH A STUDENT PILOT AND FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR.

THE STUDENT PILOT, WHO WAS MANIPLULATING THE CONTROLS AT THE TIME OF THE EVENT, WAS WORKING ON A PRIVATE CERTIFICATE.  HE WAS BEING INSTRUCTED ON POWER RECOVERY AUTO ROTATIONS AT THE TIME OF THE EVENT.

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE BECAME NERVOUS DURING THE MANEUVER AND FROZE ON THE CONTROLS WHICH PREVENTED THE INSTRUCTOR FROM APPLYING THROTTLE AND COLLECTIVE CORRECTIONS.

IT APPEARED THAT THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A TAXIWAY, IN A RELATIVELY LEVEL ATTITUDE, A HIGH RATE OF DESCENT CAUSING THE FORWARD AND AFT LANDING GEAR CROSS TUBES AND SIDE STRUTS TO BEND.

THE PILOT AND THE INSTRUCTOR WERE BOTH UNINJURED.

SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THE TAILBOOM WAS DENTED AND ANGLED DOWNWARD DUE TO THE FORCE OF IMPACT.   IT ALSO REVEALED THAT THE LOWER ENGINE SUPPORT FRAME ASSEMBLY WAS BENT.

INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THAT THE AIRCRAFT DAMAGE APPEARED TO BE CONSISTENT WITH THE FACTS PROVIDED BY THE PILOT AND INSTRUCTOR.

FLIGHT CONTROL CONTINUITY AND ENGINE CONTROL WAS ESTABLISHED.

REPORT TO BE AMENDED.

## NTSB investigation

None matched to this report by aircraft and date. Search the NTSB's own records: https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/basic-search

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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