# NTSB ERA11LA481: Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta, N7197W, St. Petersburg, FL, September 3, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 3, 2011, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: St. Petersburg, FL - Coordinates: 27.90611, -82.685554 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9061&lon=-82.6856&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Tailstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 5, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 81695 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11LA481 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81695/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81695 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11LA481 ## Probable cause The commercial pilot's improper recovery from a practice autorotation, resulting in a tailboom strike and subsequent rollover. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 35 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Simulated/training event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 173 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Tailstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 124 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 261 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the commercial pilot, he was receiving a checkride to become a flight instructor. During a full stop autorotation practice, as the pilot began a slow flare to slow the helicopter, the helicopter ballooned, he lost control of the helicopter, and it pitched up to the left. During an attempt to regain control of the helicopter, the tailboom struck the ground, and the helicopter rolled over. According to the designated pilot examiner giving the checkride, it was the commercial pilot's third checkride attempt. The pilot's previous checkrides resulted in an unsatisfactory performance and termination of the evaluation due to the pilot’s slow reaction times. ## Factual narrative On September 3, 2011, at 1430 eastern daylight time, a Robinson R-22, N7197W, sustained substantial damaged following a ground collision during a practice autorotation at the St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport (PIE), St. Petersburg, Florida. The commercial pilot received minor injuries and the designated pilot examiner (DPE) was uninjured. The helicopter registered to and operated by Razor Blades Helicopter Incorporated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an evaluation flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. According to the commercial pilot, the purpose of the flight was to complete his certificated flight instructors check ride. During the first segment of the check ride, all of the maneuvers were uneventful. The DPE then instructed the pilot to demonstrate a straight in autorotation with a power recovery. The pilot conducted the maneuver but the DPE was unsatisfied and asked the pilot to perform the maneuver again. The pilot performed the maneuver to the satisfaction of the DPE, and was then asked to perform an autorotation with a full stop. During the full stop autorotation as the pilot began to flare to slow the helicopter, the DPE began to shout. The pilot did not understand what the DPE was shouting about and shortly thereafter the helicopter became uncontrollable. The helicopter climbed to the left and the pilot attempted to push the cyclic forward to regain control of the helicopter. The pilot stated that the DPE held the cyclic back, the helicopter collided with the ground, and rolled over on the left side resulting in substantial damage to the helicopter tail boom and tail rotor. According to the DPE this was the commercial pilot's third attempt for this check ride. On the pilot's previous check rides the pilot's slow reaction time caused him difficulty in emergency operations, which resulted in an unsatisfactory performance and termination of the evaluations. The pilot was instructed to perform a touchdown autorotation, and during the maneuver everything appeared to standards. As the flare to touchdown started the pilot did not arrest the sink rate which resulted in a tail low attitude. The tail boom stuck the ground and the helicopter rolled onto its left side. The DPE stated that he did not touch the cyclic control and did not agree to act as pilot in command. According to part 14 Code of Federal Regulations 61.47 Part (b) the examiner is not the pilot in command of the aircraft during the practical test unless the examiner agrees to act in that capacity for the flight or for a portion of the flight by prior arrangement with the applicant. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7197W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7197W-2012-09-18), registration cancelled 2012-09-18, S/N 3218, built 2001 (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 O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 3218 - Airframe hours: 2063 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-J2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Razor Blades Helicopter Inc. - Registered owner: Razor Blades Helicopter Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 12, 2011, 5 hours before - Departed: PIE, St. Petersburg, FL - Destination: PIE, St. Petersburg, FL - Airport: PIE, St. Petersburg/Clearwater Int, runway 09, 5,165 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 2, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 411 total, 245 in this make and model - Check pilot; age 69; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 9,510 total, 1,163 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: PIE ## 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 20110903020349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110903020349A), Sep 3, 2011: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, Clearwater, FL, Substantial damage. Pilot was being administered a CFI check ride with a helicopter rating. While performing a full touchdown autorotation the aircraft's tailboom stuck the ground… ## Docket (9 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 22, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81695. 3.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40369151&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Reports from Federal Agencies-FAA statement Kahler (item 2, .PDF, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354731&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Federal%20Agencies-FAA%20statement%20Kahler-Redacted.PDF - DPE Inspector statement Marasalek (item 3, .PDF, 36 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354732&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=DPE%20Inspector%20statement%20Marasalek-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation-Marsalek (item 4, .PDF, 50 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377306&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-Marsalek-Master.PDF - Airport operation report (item 5, .PDF, 616 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354734&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airport%20operation%20report-Redacted.PDF - Power recovery procedure (item 6, .PDF, 77 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377146&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Power%20recovery%20procedure-Master.PDF - Other Pertinent Forms and Reports-Inspection times N7197W (item 7, .PDF, 123 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377308&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports-Inspection%20times%20N7197W-Master.PDF - Photo 1-FAA Photo- Aft view Helicopter (item 8, .PDF, 82 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40355016&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201-FAA%20Photo-%20Aft%20view%20Helicopter-Master.PDF - Photo 2-FAA photo- Tailboom (item 9, .PDF, 75 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40355017&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202-FAA%20photo-%20Tailboom-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.