- Date
- April 30, 2009, 16:50 local (21:50 UTC)
- Place
- New Braunfels, TX
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Emergency descent
- Aircraft
- N7519VRobinson Helicopter R22 Beta
- Defining event
- Autorotation: Loss of lift
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 9, 2009
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20090430005439A
- Case key
- 73758
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate main rotor rpm during a practice autorotation. Contributing to the accident was the instructor pilot's delayed remedial action.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The instructor pilot was performing flight checks on the single-engine helicopter after maintenance had been performed. The instructor pilot and private pilot on board had completed three straight-in autorotations and one 180-degree reverse direction autorotation. The instructor set up on downwind and initiated a second 180-degree autorotation. When the turn was almost completed, the rotor RPM started to drop. The instructor decided to initiate a power recovery go-around. Power was applied but the helicopter continued to settle and hit the ground in a level attitude. The helicopter rolled on its left side and sustained substantial damage. Both occupants exited the aircraft unassisted and were not injured. No system anomalies were discovered.
Factual narrative
The instructor pilot was performing flight checks on the single engine helicopter after maintenance had been performed. The instructor pilot and private pilot on board had completed three straight-in autorotations and one 180-degree reverse direction autorotation. The instructor setup on downwind and initiated a second 180-degree autorotation. But, when the turn was almost completed, the rotor RPM started to drop. The instructor decided to initiate a power recovery go-around. Power was applied but the helicopter continued to settle and hit the ground in a level attitude. The helicopter rolled on its left side and sustained substantial damage. Both occupants exited the aircraft unassisted and were not injured. No system anomalies were revealed.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7519V
- Reported as
- Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 3565
- Airframe hours
- 1,706
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360 SERIES, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight test · Part 91
- Operator
- Spitzer Matthew
- Registered owner
- Spitzer Matthew
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · April 30, 2009
- Departed
- KBAZ · New Braunfels, TX
- Destination
- KBAZ · New Braunfels, TX
- Airport
- KBAZ · New Braunfels Municipal, runway 13, 5,352 × 100 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Flight instructor
- Age
- 28
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- December 31, 2008
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 1,525 total · 1,480 in this make and model · 1,452 as pilot in command · 138 in the last 90 days · 35 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Student pilot
- Age
- 20
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- April 20, 2009
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 60 total · 55 in this make and model · 21 as pilot in command · 60 in the last 90 days · 25 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 160° at 16 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 90 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.88 inHg
- Observed at
- KBAZ
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 22, 2009, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.3 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.