- Date
- August 13, 2015, 16:35 local (22:35 UTC)
- Place
- Caldwell, ID
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N3103QRobinson Helicopter R22 Beta
- Defining event
- Landing-flare/touchdown: Abrupt maneuver
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 3, 2015
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20150813012189A
- Case key
- 91794
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 helicopter flight instructor's delayed remedial action during an autorotation resulting in a loss of control and impact 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
According to the flight instructor, while performing a simulated, right turn, 180 degree autorotation the helicopter impacted the ground and rolled over. The flight instructor stated that at 200 feet AGL, the low rotor RPM horn sounded, and he and the student pilot "attempted a recovery." The flight instructor reported that after hearing the low rotor RPM horn, but prior to impact, "a loud thumping noise could be heard and a violent shake in the cyclic could be felt." He stated that he chose to level the helicopter before it impacted the terrain and rolled. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor system, fuselage and tail boom. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies prior to flight that would have prevented normal operation.
Factual narrative
According to the flight instructor, while performing a simulated, right turn, 180 degree autorotation the helicopter impacted the ground and rolled over. The flight instructor stated that at 200 feet AGL, the low rotor RPM horn sounded, and he and the student pilot "attempted a recovery." The flight instructor reported that after hearing the low rotor RPM horn, but prior to impact, "a loud thumping noise could be heard and a violent shake in the cyclic could be felt." He stated that he chose to level the helicopter before it impacted the terrain and rolled. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor system, fuselage and tail boom. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies prior to flight that would have prevented normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3103Q
- Reported as
- Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta (BETA)
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 4051
- Built
- 2006
- Airframe hours
- 6,601.7
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-J2A, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Silverhawk Aviation Academy LLC
- Registered owner
- Silverhawk Aviation Academy LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 14, 2015 · 25 hours before
- Departed
- EUL · Caldwell, ID
- Destination
- EUL · Caldwell, ID
- Airport
- EUL · Caldwell Industrial, runway 30, 5,500 × 100 ft, dirt
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
- 32
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- December 19, 2014
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 729 total · 448 in this make and model · 630 as pilot in command · 218 in the last 90 days · 73 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Student pilot
- Age
- 29
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 64 total · 64 in this make and model · 2 as pilot in command · 40 in the last 90 days · 17 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 340° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 99 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.88 inHg
- Observed at
- KEUL
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 23, 2015, 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.