# NTSB CEN11LA226: Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta, N112HE, Bulverde, TX, March 9, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 9, 2011, 12:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Bulverde, TX - Coordinates: 29.770519, -98.449897 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7705&lon=-98.4499&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 15, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 78547 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11LA226 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78547/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78547 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA226 ## Probable cause The in-flight separation of the fuel cap, which impacted the helicopter’s tail rotor and resulted in the loss of tail rotor thrust. Contributing to the accident was the inadequate preflight inspection by both pilots, who did not ensure that the fuel cap was securely tightened before flight. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fuel system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 181 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Flight crew (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 563 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 410 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md) - [Autorotation: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 85 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis Prior to the flight, the flight instructor refueled the helicopter, and the student pilot performed a pre-flight inspection of the helicopter. The instructor and student then departed and were practicing autorotations when the helicopter yawed left and right. The instructor initiated an autorotation to an orchard. The helicopter impacted the ground and trees before coming to rest on its left side. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the left fuel tank’s gas cap was missing. A search in the direction of the helicopter’s flight path located a piece of tail rotor blade and the fuel cap, which had separated into two pieces. Additionally, the fuel cap’s gasket was missing. It could not be determined if the gasket was on the fuel cap before the cap separated from the helicopter. The impact marks on the fuel cap and tail rotor blade piece were consistent with the fuel cap coming into contact with the tail rotor blade. ## Factual narrative On March 9, 2011, about 1230 central standard time, a Robinson R22 helicopter, N112HE, impacted terrain following an autorotation from cruise flight, after the helicopter developed a vibration and yaw near San Antonio, Texas. The certified flight instructor (CFI) and student pilot were not injured and the helicopter was substantially damaged. The aircraft was registered to and operated by Heliflight Leasing, LLC., Bulverde, Texas, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an instructional flight. Visual flight rules (VFR) meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and a flight plan was not filed. The flight originated from the Bulverde Airpark (1T8), San Antonio, Texas. According to the CFI, they were practicing autorotations and as they entered the last autorotation the helicopter yawed to the left and right repeatedly. The CFI took control of the helicopter and made a 180-degree turn to the right, in order to land in a pecan orchard. The helicopter impacted the ground and pecan trees. The helicopter’s main rotor contacted the ground and the helicopter came to rest on its left side. During the impact the tailboom separated into two pieces near mid-span and the fuselage and main rotor blades were substantially damaged. The responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector noted that the helicopter’s fuel cap was missing from the left side fuel tank. The inspector back-tracked the helicopter’s general direction of flight and located a piece of the tailrotor blade and fuel cap, which had separated into two parts. Additionally, the fuel cap’s gasket was missing. It could not be determined if the gasket was on the fuel cap prior to separating from the helicopter. It was also noted that the fuel cap did not have a lanyard chain, nor was it originally equipped with one. The impact marks on the fuel cap and rotor blade piece were consistent with the fuel cap coming into contact with the tailrotor blade. The inspector also noted that prior to the flight, the CFI had refueled the helicopter, and the student pilot pre-flighted the helicopter. Additional Information A search of the NTSB database for similar events revealed two such occurrences: On July 10, 2011, a Robinson R22 helicopter, near West Palm Beach, Florida, had a fuel cap separate and lodge in the tailrotor system. (NTSB preliminary report ERA11LA392) On December 02, 1992, a Robinson R22 helicopter, near Fresno, California, had a fuel cap come off and struck a tailrotor blade. (NTSB report LAX93LA058) The helicopter manufacturer issued R22 Service Bulletin, Number SB-107, dated 30 May, 2012, that notes improperly secured fuel caps may come off in flight. The bulletin requires the application of alignment marks and inspection/replacement of the cap’s gasket. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N112HE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N112HE-2017-07-03), registration cancelled 2017-07-03, S/N 1112, built 1989 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER 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: 1112 - Airframe hours: 6925 - Engines: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Heliflight Leasing LLC - Registered owner: Heliflight Leasing LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 29, 2011 - Departed: 1K8, Bulverde Airprk, TX - Destination: 1K8, Bulverde Airprk, TX - Flight plan: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 50; injuries: none; private, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 11,922 total, 8,422 in this make and model, 11,922 as pilot in command, 102 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 25; injuries: none; private; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 31, 2010; seat: right; flight hours: 230 total, 171 in this make and model, 77 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 15 knots, gusting 22 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: KSAT, 12 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 20110309003909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110309003909A), Mar 9, 2011: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, Bulverde, TX, Substantial damage. On March 9, 2011, N112HE was being used to conduct a 14 CFR part 61 training flight. The crew consisted of a training instructor (PIC) and a certificated pilot… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 27, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78547. 7.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 565 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40358410&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 21 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40358411&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Photo 1: Wrecked helicopter (item 3, .PDF, 5.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359008&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Wrecked%20helicopter-Master.PDF - Photo 2: View of helicopter's left side fuel tank (FAA photo) (item 4, .PDF, 988 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40358413&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20View%20of%20helicopter%27s%20left%20side%20fuel%20tank%20%20%20%20%20%20(FAA%20photo)-Master.PDF - Photo 3: Missing fuel cap and part of the tail rotor blade (item 5, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40358414&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%3A%20Missing%20fuel%20cap%20and%20part%20of%20the%20tail%20rotor%20blade-Master.PDF 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.