# NTSB ERA21LA117: Robinson R22, N474AT, West Palm Beach, FL, January 26, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 26, 2021, 17:15 local (22:15 UTC) - Place: West Palm Beach, FL - Coordinates: 26.593056, -80.085065 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.5931&lon=-80.0851&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: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA -IFO, FAA - AVP100 - NTSB case key (mKey): 102569 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA117 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102569/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102569 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA117 ## Probable cause The examiner’s failure to arrest the helicopter descent during a simulated engine failure maneuver and the flight instructor’s inadequate remedial action, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Designated examiner; 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) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot; 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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 54 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The purpose of the flight was for the examiner to conduct an examination of the assistant chief flight instructor applicant in a helicopter. The last maneuver that they were testing for the day was an engine failure on takeoff. The examiner assumed control of the helicopter from the flight instructor and began the takeoff. He asked the flight instructor to guard the flight controls before he announced a simulated engine failure and initiated the glide phase of the autorotation. When the examiner attempted to arrest the rate of descent by increasing engine power, he was unable to stop the helicopter prior to it impacting the ground. During the landing the helicopter’s skids and fuselage were substantially damaged. The pilots reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N474AT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N474AT), registered now, S/N 2889, built 1998 (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&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2889 - Year built: 1998 - Airframe hours: 6459.4 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-J2A 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Palm Beach Helicopters - Registered owner: Airmen Testing & Training Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 3, 2020, 44 hours before - Airport: LNA, Palm Beach County Park Airport - Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic multifunction display, Onboard weather ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Check pilot; age 35; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 18, 2020; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3,082 total, 1,512 in this make and model, 2,981 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Flight instructor; age 38; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 22, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,346 total, 1,175 in this make and model, 1,262 as pilot in command, 156 in the last 90 days, 45 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: LNA ## 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 20210126001979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210126001979A), Jan 26, 2021: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, Lake Worth, FL, Substantial damage. The accident occurred during the practical test portion of a part 141 assistant chief instructor initial checkride in an R-22 helicopter. After completing most… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 13, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102569. 12.2 MB in all. - FAA examiner - pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11954775&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=LA117%20FAA%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Flight instructor - pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 2, PDF, 11 pages, 4.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11954431&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=LA117%20Flight%20instructor%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilots' statements (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 299 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11954785&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilots%20Statements%20LA117_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11953977&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20LA117-Rel.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.