# Accident 20220926021519A: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, Mesa, AZ, September 26, 2022

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 26, 2022, 08:10 local time
- Place: Mesa, AZ
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.5400° N, 111.7100° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5400&lon=-111.7100&mi=10
- Aircraft: N252SC, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N252SC-2025-04-03) (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: 2
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 900 total, 250 in this make and model, 65 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR22LA359](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA359) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220926021519A

## Narrative

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

INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT WAS PERFORMING PRACTICE AUTOROTATIONS AT A FIELD LOCATION APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES NORTH OF THE FALCON FIELD (FFZ) AIRPORT.  THIS LOCATION IS COMMONLY USED FOR HELICOPTER TRAINING.  THE STUDENT HAD COMPLETED A SERIES OF 180 DEGREE AUTOROTATIONS AFTER WHICH THE INSTRUCTOR TOOK THE CONTROLS TO DEMONSTRATE THE MANEUVER.  A REVIEW OF FLIGHT TRACKING DATA SHOWED THAT THE INSTRUCTOR BEGAN THE MANEUVER APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET LOWER AND 10 KNOTS SLOWER THAN THE PREVIOUS MANEUVERS.  ALSO, THE TURN WAS PERFORMED TO THE RIGHT WHICH REQUIRED THE INSTRUCTOR TO VIEW ACROSS THE STUDENT IN THE RIGHT SEAT.  THIS CONDITION DID NOT ALLOW FOR THE INSTRUCTOR TO OBSERVE THE DEVELOPING SITUATION UNTIL THE TURN WAS NEARLY COMPLETED.  THE ISTRUCTOR ATTEMPTED TO ARREST THE DESCENT BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL.  THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE GROUND IN A TAIL LOW BUT WINGS LEVEL ORIENTATION.  DURING THE IMPACT, THE TAILROTOR TO STRUCK THE GROUND CAUSING THE TAIL ROTOR BLADES TO SEPARATE FROM THE TAIL ROTOR HUB.  FURTHER, THE IMPACT CAUSED THE SKIDS TO SPREAD AND THE BELLY OF THE AIRCRAFT TO STRIKE THE GROUND.  THE AIRCRAFT SKIDDED TO A STOP WHERE THE AIRCRAFT ROTATED FORWARD ONTO ITS NOSE CAUSING THE ROTOR BLADES TO STRIKE THE GROUND.  BOTH AIRMAN WERE ABLE TO EXIT THE AIRCRAFT.  AFTER A MINUTE, THE AIRMAN NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE AIRCRAFT EVENTUALLY LEADING TO THE AIRCRAFT BEING CONSUMED BY FIRE.

## 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 WPR22LA359](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA359), Sep 26, 2022: Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta (N252SC), Mesa, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor’s failure to maintain control of the helicopter’s rate of descent, resulting 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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