# NTSB ERA26LA327: Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta, N276SH, McMinnville, TN, September 3, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 3, 2026, 14:11 local (19:11 UTC) - Place: McMinnville, TN · Grassy Area near threshold - Coordinates: 35.694218, -85.850559 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6942&lon=-85.8506&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Emergency descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/600) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Autorotation: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 15, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 203731 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA327 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203731/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203731 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA327 ## Probable cause The flight instructor’s delayed remedial action during a practice autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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 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: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (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. - [Autorotation: 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 flight instructor of the helicopter stated that after practicing two uneventful 180° practice auto rotations, the student pilot attempted a third. The maneuver proceeded as expected, however, as it progressed, the helicopter slowed significantly at low altitude. The flight instructor stated that he attempted to take the controls to recover, but he was too late and the helicopter landed hard in the grass prior to the runway. The helicopter rolled to the left and the fuselage, main rotors, and tail boom were substantially damaged. The flight instructor reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N276SH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N276SH), registered now, S/N 4246, built 2007 (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-360-J2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-j2a) (registry code 42314, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 4246 - Year built: 2007 - Airframe hours: 6310.2 - Engines: Lycoming Engines O-360-J2A 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Adam Cobrinik, doing business as Whirlybird22 LLC - Registered owner: Spitzer Helicopter LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 18, 2025, 66.4 hours before - Destination: JWN, Nashville, TN - Airport: RNC, Warren County Meml, runway 05, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 28; injuries: serious; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 31, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,579 total, 477.8 in this make and model, 1,459.5 as pilot in command, 51.9 in the last 90 days, 8.5 in the last 30 days, 4.4 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 33; injuries: none; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 6, 2026; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 292.8 total, 62 in this make and model, 178.8 as pilot in command, 18.6 in the last 90 days, 12.4 in the last 30 days, 3.2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: CSV, 40 nm away - METAR: METAR KCSV 031853Z AUTO VRB03KT 10SM FEW065 34/18 A3011 RMK AO2 SLP169 T03390183 ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 15, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203731. 25.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 8.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=21023121&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA26LA327%20Pilot%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photos (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=21024435&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA26LA327%20Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - Video file (item 3, MP4, 15.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=21024517&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=ERA26LA327%20Airport%20Video-Rel.mp4 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.