# NTSB BFO94LA105: Robinson R22 Beta, N2346J, Elizabethtown, KY, June 17, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 17, 1994, 12:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Elizabethtown, KY - Coordinates: 37.699172, -85.870773 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6992&lon=-85.8708&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 24, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 8936 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO94LA105 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8936/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO94LA105 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE HELICOPTER WAS OUTSIDE THE HEIGHT-VELOCITY ENVELOPE (FOR A SUCCESSFUL AUTOROTATION), WHEN LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OCCURRED. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - height/velocity curve - not followed (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Hard landing, emergency landing after takeoff - autorotation - performed, pilot in command ## Analysis THE PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE DEPARTING FROM A LOT THAT WAS SURROUNDED BY OBSTRUCTIONS. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE TOOK OFF IN A HOVER, THEN AS THE HELICOPTER WAS PASSING TREES AT ABOUT 70 FEET AND 30 TO 35 KNOTS, IT BEGAN SPINNING TO THE RIGHT. HE SAID HE TRIED TO STOP THE TURNING WITH LEFT PEDAL, WHICH DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. HE ENTERED AN AUTOROTATION TO A ROAD. DURING THE AUTOROTATIVE LANDING, THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN HARD, DAMAGING THE UNDERSIDE OF THE AIRFRAME. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES CLIPPED A TREE, BUT NO BLADE DAMAGE WAS REPORTED. POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL DISCREPANCIES. ACCORDING TO THE HEIGHT-VELOCITY DIAGRAM IN THE R22 OPERATING HANDBOOK, DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST WHEN THE HELICOPTER WAS OUTSIDE THE AREA FOR THE 'RECOMMENDED TAKE-OFF PROFILE' (AIRSPEED/ALTITUDE ENVELOPE FOR A SUCCESSFUL AUTOROTATION). ## Factual narrative On June 17, 1994, about 1200 eastern daylight time, a Robinson R-22 Beta, N2346J, was substantially damaged during a hard landing that followed an autorotation, in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The personal flight was being operated by J.R. Aviation, Elizabeth, Indiana. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight was being conducted under CFR 14 Part 91. In the NTSB form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated, I took off at back end of gravel lot behind First Christian Church of Elizabethtown. All gauges looked normal, so proceeded to hover then forward flight. As I passed by trees to my right at approximately 30 to 35 knots [the] airplane started to spin to [the] right. I tried to enter left pedal to stop turning. After noting this was not correcting the problem, I lowered the collective to try to arrest the rotation. After two 360 degree spins, I entered autorotation to road.... At the termination of the autorotation, the helicopter landed hard causing damage to the underside of the airframe. According to witness statements and a police report, the helicopter struck a tree prior to landing. Post accident examination by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector revealed no mechanical discrepancies with the helicopter or the engine. According to the height-velocity diagram in the R-22 Pilot's Operating Handbook, between 0-53 knots and 15-400 feet, was an area outside of the "RECOMMENDED TAKE-OFF PROFILE" area. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2346J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2346J-2019-05-06), registration cancelled 2019-05-06, S/N 2211, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROBINSON R22 BETA - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (registry code 7640110) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2211 - Airframe hours: 754 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 124 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: J. R. Aviation - Registered owner: Richard Larock - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 21, 1994, 56 hours before - Departed: NONE ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; commercial, military; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 1,844 total, 42 in this make and model, 866 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## 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 19940617015419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940617015419A), Jun 17, 1994: Robsin R22BETA, Elizabethtown, KY, Substantial damage. Began to spin on takeoff unable to correct. Autorotated to hard. Impact. Exceeded recommended takeoff profile. 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.