# Accident 20210126001979A: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, Lake Worth, FL, January 26, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 26, 2021, 17:15 local time
- Place: Lake Worth, FL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: IGIS
- Location: 26.5931° N, 80.0851° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.5931&lon=-80.0851&mi=10
- Aircraft: N474AT, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N474AT) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA (registry code 7640110, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (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 R22 BETA
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 3,001 total, 1,512 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA21LA117](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA117) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210126001979A

## Narrative

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

THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED DURING THE PRACTICAL TEST PORTION OF A PART 141 ASSISTANT CHIEF INSTRUCTOR INITIAL CHECKRIDE IN AN R-22 HELICOPTER.

AFTER COMPLETING MOST OF THE TASKS PLANNED, THEY RETURNED TO THE AIRPORT AND THE ASI ASKED THE APPLICANT IF HE COULD FLY THEM BACK TO THE PADS.

A 3-WAY EXCHANGE OF CONTROLS OCCURRED AND THE APPLICANT BELIEVED AT THIS POINT THE CHECKRIDE WAS FINISHED, THOUGH THAT WAS NEVER STATED BY THE ASI.

INSTEAD OF FLYING TO THE PADS, THE ASI POSITIONED THE HELICOPTER ON TAXIWAY B AND ANNOUNCED HE WAS DEMONSTRATING AN ENGINE FAILURE ON TAKEOFF MANEUVER, AND TOLD THE APPLICANT TO "FOLLOW ME ON THE CONTROLS."

A POWER OFF DESCENT WAS ENTERED FROM APPROX. 125' ACCORDING TO ADS-B DATA, WITH A MAXIMUM DESCENT RATE OF 2688 FPM. THE DESCENT COULD NOT BE ARRESTED IN THE FLARE VIA NORMAL CONTROL INPUTS NOR WITH APPLICATION OF POWER.

THE HELICOPTER SUFFERED A HARD LANDING WHICH SPLAYED THE SKIDS AND INCURRED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE STRUCTURE.

THE ASI STATED THE APPLICANT WAS STILL BEING EVALUATED AS PART OF THE CHECKRIDE IN A STUDENT/CFI ROLE PLAYING SCENARIO, THOUGH HE DID NOT EXPECT THE APPLICANT (WHO WAS PIC ON THE CHECKRIDE) TO INTERVENE DURING THE MANEUVER.

THE APPLICANT BELIEVED THE MANEUVER WAS A DEMONSTRATION ONLY, NOT PART OF THE CHECKRIDE, AND THAT THE ASI HAD THE HELICOPTER UNDER CONTROL AT ALL TIMES. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED BY EITHER CREWMEMBER.

## 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 ERA21LA117](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA117), Jan 26, 2021: Robinson R22 (N474AT), West Palm Beach, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The examiner’s failure to arrest the helicopter descent during a simulated engine failure maneuver and the flight instructor’s inadequate 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.

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