20220415001739A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA · Gila Bend, AZ · April 15, 2022

Date: April 15, 2022 · 08:37 local
Place: Gila Bend, AZ
Airport: Gila Bend Municipal
Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
Operating rules: Pilot school (Part 141)
Operator: QUHS
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N7516G
NTSB investigation: NTSBANC22FA030
Reported as: Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta
Reported engine: Lycoming O-360 series
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Student
Pilot’s flight hours: 96 total96 in this make and model42 in the last 90 days

N7516GRegistration cancelled Apr 27, 2024 · Robinson Helicopter R22 BETAS/N 3513 · Built 2003 Airframe modelRobinson Helicopter R22 BETA Engine modelLycoming O-360 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

During approach to the airport, the helicopter engine failed. It appears that the student pilot failed to appropriately respond to the emergency. The rotor system slowed to a point where recovery was not probable. The helicopter impacted the ground in a tail low attitude, spun approximately 85 degrees to the left and rolled on to it's right side.

As the FAA filed it

DURING APPROACH TO THE AIRPORT, THE HELICOPTER ENGINE FAILED. IT APPEARS THAT THE STUDENT PILOT FAILED TO APPROPRIATELY RESPOND TO THE EMERGENCY. THE ROTOR SYSTEM SLOWED TO A POINT WHERE RECOVERY WAS NOT PROBABLE. THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A TAIL LOW ATTITUDE, SPUN APPROXIMATELY 85 DEGREES TO THE LEFT AND ROLLED ON TO IT'S RIGHT SIDE.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ANC22FA030Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportGila Bend, AZThe student pilot’s failure to maintain control during the landing approach.Apr 15, 2022 · Substantial damage