# NTSB ERA12CA137: Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta, N8066U, St Petersburg, FL, January 6, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 6, 2012, 15:53 local (20:53 UTC) - Place: St Petersburg, FL - Coordinates: 27.750833, -82.622779 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.7508&lon=-82.6228&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Uncontrolled descent: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 7, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 82632 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA137 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82632/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82632 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA137 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's delayed remedial action during the pilot-receiving-instruction's practice autorotation that developed a high rate of descent. Contributing to the accident was the pilot-receiving-instruction's improper control inputs during the practice autorotation. ## 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 · Instructor/check 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) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 96 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Autorotation: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Autorotation: 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) - [Uncontrolled descent: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the helicopter flight instructor, he was preparing a helicopter-rated commercial pilot for his helicopter flight instructor check ride. After the pilot receiving instruction completed a straight-in autorotation, the flight instructor demonstrated a throttle-off, 180-degree autorotation from 600 feet above ground level (agl). The pilot receiving instruction then attempted the same maneuver, but during the entry, the helicopter airspeed became slow while the rotor rpm remained "in the green." The pilot receiving instruction lowered the nose of the helicopter, which increased airspeed. As the helicopter turned onto final approach at an altitude of about 300 feet agl, the flight instructor advised the pilot receiving instruction to ease back on the cyclic while raising the collective to maintain rotor rpm. About 150 feet agl, at an airspeed of about 85 knots, and a rate of descent of about 2,000 feet per minute, the flight instructor took over control of the helicopter and began to pull back on the cyclic while raising the collective. Despite the flight instructor’s efforts, the helicopter continued a tail-low descent into the ground, severing the tail boom. Postaccident examination revealed no preexisting mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative According to the helicopter flight instructor, he was preparing a helicopter-rated commercial pilot for his helicopter flight instructor check ride. After the pilot receiving instruction completed a straight-in autorotation, the flight instructor demonstrated a throttle-off, 180-degree autorotation from 600 feet above ground level (agl). The pilot receiving instruction then attempted the same maneuver, but during the entry, the helicopter airspeed became slow while the rotor rpm remained "in the green." The pilot receiving instruction lowered the nose of the helicopter, which increased airspeed. As the helicopter turned onto final approach at an altitude of about 300 feet agl, the flight instructor advised the pilot receiving instruction to ease back on the cyclic while raising the collective to maintain rotor rpm. About 150 feet agl, at an airspeed of about 85 knots, and a rate of descent of about 2,000 feet per minute, the flight instructor took over control of the helicopter and began to pull back on the cyclic while raising the collective. Despite the flight instructor’s efforts, the helicopter continued a tail-low descent into the ground, severing the tail boom. Postaccident examination revealed no preexisting mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8066U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8066U), registered now, S/N 1273, built 1990 (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: 1273 - Airframe hours: 4584 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Bayphoto Helicopter LLC - Registered owner: Bayphoto Helicopter LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 16, 2011 - Departed: SPG, St Petersburg, FL - Destination: PIE, Clearwater, FL - Airport: SPG, Albert Whitted Field, runway 18, 2,864 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 27; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 21, 2010; seat: right; flight hours: 1,528 total, 1,485 in this make and model, 1,249 as pilot in command, 193 in the last 90 days, 48 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 36; injuries: none; commercial; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 30, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 276 total, 276 in this make and model, 134 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: SPG ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 29, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82632. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 613 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40362199&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilots Statements (item 2, .PDF, 478 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40362200&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilots%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - SPG Weather Observations (item 3, .PDF, 101 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40362201&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=SPG%20Weather%20Observations-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.