# NTSB ERA17LA046: Robinson Helicopter R22, N306RL, West Chester, PA, November 15, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 15, 2016, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: West Chester, PA - Coordinates: 39.990001, -75.581947 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9900&lon=-75.5819&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 10, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 94380 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA17LA046 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94380/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94380 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA046 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's decision to continue the practice autorotation in known gusting wind conditions, which resulted in a hard landing and roll over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7640102), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7640102), [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 (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=7640102), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=7640102), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Windshear or thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390/sequence.md?model=7640102), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of tail rotor effectiveness](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/242); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/242/sequence.md?model=7640102), [All aircraft, 100 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/242/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7640102), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md?model=7640102), [All aircraft, 261 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor was demonstrating straight-in autorotations to a power recovery over the runway. He stated that the wind during the flight was generally from the north, but shearing horizontally to the northeast/northwest. He began to flare the helicopter about 40 ft above the ground. About 20 ft above the ground, a large wind gust with a horizontal wind shear resulted in a drift to the right and loss of tail rotor effectiveness. He corrected the drift and heading with flight control inputs, returned to the runway area, and continued the flare. During the last portion of the flare, the helicopter encountered a vertical wind shear and climbed about 20 ft. At that point, "all wind stopped," and the helicopter descended. The instructor attempted a power recovery; however, the helicopter landed hard on the skids with some lateral motion. The helicopter bounced, the left skid broke, and the helicopter rolled and came to rest on its left side. The flight instructor did not report any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. Postaccident examination of the wreckage confirmed substantial damage to the airframe and main rotor blades; there was no evidence of a preimpact mechanical failure or malfunction. Additionally, the flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunction or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On November 15, 2016, about 1500 eastern standard time, a Robinson R22, N306RL, was substantially damaged during a practice autorotation landing at Brandywine Airport (OQN), West Chester, Pennsylvania. The flight instructor and a student pilot were not injured. The helicopter was privately owned and operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an instructional flight. Day, visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed. The local flight departed OQN about 1430.The flight instructor reported that he was demonstrating straight-in autorotation landings to a power recovery using the runway. The wind was generally from the north, but shearing from the northeast to the northwest, horizontally. During an autorotation to runway 9/27, he began to flare about 40 feet above the ground. At 20 feet, a large gust with a horizontal wind shear caused the helicopter to drift to the right and lose tail rotor effectiveness. He corrected the drift and heading with flight control inputs, returned to the runway, and continued the flare. During the last portion of the flare, a vertical wind shear was encountered, and the helicopter climbed, uncommanded, about 20 feet. At that point, "all wind stopped," and the helicopter descended. He attempted a power recovery; however, the helicopter landed hard on the skids, with some sideward motion. The helicopter bounced, the left skid broke, and the aircraft rolled and came to rest on its left side. The two pilots egressed the helicopter and were met by first responders. An inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration responded to the accident site and examined the wreckage. Structural damage to the airframe was confirmed The main rotor blades were deformed from impact forces and the tail boom was partially separated. He determined that the helicopter was operated within the aircraft's weight and balance limitations at the time of the accident; however, it was operated at the forward center of gravity limit. The pilots weighed about 200 pounds each, which placed the helicopter near the upper weight limit. His examination of the wreckage did not reveal evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction. He reported that the surface wind at the time of the accident varied between 330 and 350 degrees at 11 to 14 knots. The flight instructor did not report any preaccident mechanical malfunction or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N306RL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N306RL-2020-12-04), registration cancelled 2020-12-04, S/N 2833M, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R22 (Mariner) - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R22](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22) (registry code 7640102) (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: 2833M - Year built: 1998 - Airframe hours: 3121 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-J2A 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 20, 2016, 50 hours before - Departed: OQN, West Chester, PA - Destination: OQN, West Chester, PA - Airport: OQN, Brandywine Airport, runway 27, 3,347 × 50 ft, asphalt - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 45; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 15, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 5,554 total, 5,372 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 41; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 42 total, 42 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 29.80 inHg - Observed at: MQS, 13 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 20161115024409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161115024409A), Nov 15, 2016: Robinson Helicopter Company R22, West Chester, PA, Substantial damage. The flight instructor was demostrating crosswind straight in autorotations with his student. The flight instructor started his flare at approximately mid field… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 24, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94380. 948 KB in all. - FAA Inspector Statement (item 1, .PDF, 12 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40462357&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Master.PDF - Photo Array (item 2, .PDF, 935 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40462358&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.