# NTSB ATL00LA003: Robinson R-22-MARINER, N2285Z, West Boca Raton, FL, October 25, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 25, 1999, 17:20 local (21:20 UTC) - Place: West Boca Raton, FL - Coordinates: 26.380229, -80.169319 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.3802&lon=-80.1693&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 4, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 47641 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL00LA003 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47641/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL00LA003 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's delayed response in taking remedial action during a practice autorotation. Factors were his inadequate planned approach and his improper use of powerplant controls. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - autorotation - planned approach - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - powerplant controls - improper use of, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) ## Analysis The flight instructor and his student were practicing 180-degree autorotation landings. Prior to initiating their last autorotation to the left, they climbed to 500 ft. agl. The student was at the controls and began a steeper turn in an attempt to reach the aiming spot, and the helicopter entered a slight dive. As the student rolled out to begin the flare, the helicopter was below 100 ft. agl. The instructor then took control of the helicopter. He pushed forward to level the helicopter, then rolled the throttle and tried to pull up on the collective. The helicopter hit the ground in a level attitude, then became airborne again. During the impact sequence, the tail boom was severed. The helicopter then spun three or four times and landed on its left side. According to the instructor, there was no mechanical malfunction with the helicopter. ## Factual narrative On October 25, 1999, at 1720 eastern daylight time, a Robinson R-22-Mariner, N2285Z, landed hard during a practice autorotation landing in West Boca Raton, Florida. The helicopter was operated by the certified flight instructor under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local instructional flight. The instructor received minor injuries, the private pilot rated student was not injured, and the helicopter sustained substantial damage. The flight originated from the Ft. Lauderdale Executive Airport, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, at 1600. According to the instructor, he and his student were practicing 180-degree autorotation landings with power recovery. They began practicing autoroations to the right, then switched to the left. Prior to initiating their last autorotation to the left, they climbed to 500 feet above ground level (agl). The student was at the controls and began a steeper turn in an attempt to reach the aiming spot. The helicopter then entered a "slight dive." As the student rolled out to begin the flare, the helicopter was below 100 feet agl. According to the instructor, he took the controls and pushed forward to level the helicopter. He rolled the throttle and tried to pull up on the collective. The helicopter hit the ground in a level attitude, then became airborne again. During the impact sequence, the tail boom was severed by the main rotor system, and the helicopter became uncontrollable. The helicopter then spun three or four times and landed on its left side. The instructor stated on his accident report that there was no mechanical malfunction with the helicopter. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2285Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2285Z-2000-01-11), registration cancelled 2000-01-11, S/N 0511M (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Robinson R-22-MARINER (R-22-MARIN) - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R22 MARINER](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-mariner) (registry code 7640115) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 0511M - Airframe hours: 4400 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-B2C 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Volar Helicopters, Inc. - Registered owner: Valley Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 11, 1999, 40 hours before - Departed: FXE, FT. LAUDERDALE, FL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; flight instructor, commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 844 total, 841 in this make and model, 809 as pilot in command, 228 in the last 90 days, 69 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 13 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft broken - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: FXE, 9 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19991025033699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991025033699A), Oct 25, 1999: Robsin R22MARINER, West Boca Raton, FL, Substantial damage. (.19) On 10-26-99 at about 1720 EDT, a Robinson R22, N2285Z, registered to vally aviation inc. and operated by volar helicopters inc., landed hard and flipped… ## Other investigations on N2285Z (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 NYC87LA222](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC87LA222), Aug 5, 1987: Robinson R22 (N2285Z), Burrville, RI, substantial damage 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.