- Date
- February 13, 2012, 12:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place
- N. Charleston, SC
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Emergency descent
- Aircraft
- N5511LRobinson Helicopter R44
- Defining event
- Autorotation: Miscellaneous/other
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 28, 2012
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20120213001969A
- Case key
- 82888
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The flight instructor’s failure to apply power during a practice autorotation in order to arrest a high rate of descent, which resulted in an in-flight collision with terrain.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The certified flight instructor (CFI) reported that, after takeoff, the student pilot practiced hovering maneuvers then practiced a straight-in autorotation with a planned power recovery. The student pilot initiated the autorotation between 300 and 400 feet above the ground with a 5- to 6-knot tailwind. During the descent, the helicopter descended faster than anticipated, and, although the student pilot initiated a flare to arrest the descent, by that point, the helicopter was too low and still descending too fast. Just before the skids hit a mound of dirt and rock that was about 6- to 8-feet tall, the CFI took the controls but was unable to arrest the descent. The CFI did not apply power but attempted to back off the mound and turn around. Because the engine was at idle power and the rotor rpm was decreasing, the helicopter spun and came to rest on its left side. The CFI reported that there was no preimpact mechanic failure or malfunction. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tailboom and also to the right side of the helicopter in the area of the right aft skid.
Factual narrative
The certified flight instructor (CFI) reported that after takeoff, hovering was performed followed by a practice straight-in autorotation with a planned power recovery. The autorotation was initiated between 300 and 400 feet with a 5 to 6 knot tailwind. During the descent they descended faster than anticipated and near the end of the autorotation they “…lost all our lift and started our flare to try and slow us down, but by that point we were too low and still descending sic [to] fast.” The skids hit a mound of dirt and rock which was about 6 to 8 feet above ground level, and he did not apply power, but attempted to back off the mound and turn around. Because the engine was at idle power and decreasing rotor rpm, the helicopter spun and came to rest on its left side. The CFI further reported there was no preimpact mechanic failure or malfunction. Digital pictures provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector-in-charge depict structural damage to the tailboom, and also the right side of the helicopter in the area of the right aft skid.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5511L
- Reported as
- Robinson Helicopter R44
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 1769
- Airframe hours
- 215
- Engine
- Lycoming O-540-F1B5, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Charleston Helicopters, doing business as Charleston Helicopters
- Registered owner
- Vertical D, LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 17, 2011
- Departed
- CHS · N. Charleston, SC
- Destination
- CHS · N. Charleston, SC
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Flight instructor
- Age
- 27
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- October 17, 2011
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 866 total · 223 in this make and model · 715 as pilot in command · 236 in the last 90 days · 95 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Student pilot
- Age
- 19
- Injuries
- None
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 86 total · 68 in this make and model · 60 in the last 90 days · 27 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Variable at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 52 °F, dew point 12 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.30 inHg
- Observed at
- CHS
Docket · 7
The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 21, 2012, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.5 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.