# NTSB CHI91LA113: Robinson R-22, N2503A, Augusta, KS, March 24, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 24, 1991, 14:34 local (20:34 UTC)
- Place: Augusta, KS
- Coordinates: 37.689964, -96.970916 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6900&lon=-96.9709&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 25, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15027
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI91LA113
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15027/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI91LA113

## Probable cause

AN IMPROPER AUTOROTATION WAS PERFORMED BY THE DUAL STUDENT AND REMEDIAL ACTION WAS DELAYED BY THE CFI.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: INADEQUATE AIRSPEED AND ROTOR RPM.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing
  - autorotation - improper, dual student (cause)
  - airspeed - inadequate, dual student (contributing factor)
  - rotor rpm - inadequate, dual student (contributing factor)
  - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)

## Analysis

THE INSTRUCTOR PLT SAID THAT WHILE TEACHING AND PRACTICING STRAIGHT AHEAD AUTOROTATION LANDING, ROTOR RPM AND AIRSPEED DECAYED AND BEFORE CORRECTIVE ACTION WAS TAKEN THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD WHICH RESULTED IN THE MAIN ROTOR FLEXING DOWNWARD AND SEVERING THE TAIL BOOM.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N2503A (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON R-22
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 595
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-B2C 131 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Kansas Copters & Wings Inc.
- Airport: 3AU, Augusta, runway 18, 1,500 × 0 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; flight instructor, commercial; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 753 total, 635 in this make and model, 681 as pilot in command, 106 in the last 90 days, 38 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 20 knots, gusting 28
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Observed at: ICT, 20 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 19910324007259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910324007259A), Mar 24, 1991: Robsin R22BETA, Augusta, KS, Substantial damage. Rotor speed and airspeed to low for power recovery. Hit ground and rotors chopped off tailboom.

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.

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