# NTSB DEN07CA072: Robinson R22 Beta, N7681H, Broomfield, CO, March 13, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: March 13, 2007, 17:15 local (23:15 UTC)
- Place: Broomfield, CO
- Coordinates: 39.908889, -105.117225
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9089&lon=-105.1172&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 27, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Denver, Colorado
- NTSB case key (mKey): 65464
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN07CA072
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65464/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN07CA072

## Probable cause

The instructor's failure to maintain aircraft control. A contributing factor was the windshear.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, descent
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - autorotation - performed, pilot in command(cfi)
  - weather condition - windshear (contributing factor)
- Hard landing, descent - uncontrolled
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - runway

## Analysis

According to the flight instructor, he was demonstrating a "full-down" autorotation into a 20-knot headwind. About 20 feet above the ground, the wind diminished and the rotor RPM decayed.  The pilot flared the helicopter, but it impacted the taxiway at 40 knots and at a 1,000 feet per minute descent rate. The helicopter bounced and the main rotor blades struck the tail boom.  A systems examination revealed no anomalies.

## Factual narrative

According to the flight instructor, he was demonstrating a "full-down" autorotation into a 20-knot headwind. About 20 feet above the ground, the wind diminished and the rotor RPM decayed.  The pilot flared the helicopter, but it impacted the taxiway at 40 knots and at a 1,000 feet per minute descent rate. The helicopter bounced and the main rotor blades struck the tail boom. A systems examination revealed no anomalies.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7681H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7681H-2012-12-19), registration cancelled 2012-12-19, S/N 3852, built 2005 (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 O-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (registry code 41575, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 3852
- Airframe hours: 1006.8
- Engines: Lycoming O-360 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Premier Helicopters
- Registered owner: Higgins Leasing Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, March 1, 2007
- Departed: BJC, Broomfield, CO
- Destination: BJC, Broomfield, CO
- Airport: BJC, Jeffco

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 22; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 1, 2006; seat: left; flight hours: 380 total, 224 in this make and model, 324 as pilot in command, 111 in the last 90 days, 45 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours
- Student pilot; age 26; injuries: none; student; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 21 total, 9 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observed at: KDEN, 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 20070313002769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070313002769A), Mar 13, 2007: Robsin R22BETA, Denver, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) On March 13, 2007 at 1615 MST a robertson R22 registration number N7681H was operating FAR part 91 flight instruction when during autorotation training…

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.