# NTSB GAA16CA530: Robinson R22, N1777V, Taylor, TX, February 5, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 5, 2016, 09:00 local (14:00 UTC) - Place: Taylor, TX - Coordinates: 30.572778, -97.443054 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.5728&lon=-97.4431&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 13, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 100377 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA530 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100377/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100377 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA530 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's improper collective input during a simulated engine failure autorotation with a power recovery, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing and the main rotor blade striking the tailboom. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: prop/rotor parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 182 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 1,397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 1,514 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing: 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 reported that he and the student pilot were both on the controls. When the helicopter was about 10 ft above ground level (agl), the instructor initiated a simulated engine failure autorotation with a power recovery. As they rolled the engine throttle up to recover, the alternator light illuminated, and the engine lost all power. When the helicopter was about 2 ft agl, the instructor raised full collective and leveled the helicopter, and the low rotor rpm light and horn activated. The student stated that the engine might have had a low-idle setting and that, during the accident flight, he applied full carburetor heat. The helicopter landed hard, bounced, and settled back onto the runway, and the main rotor blade struck the tailboom. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tailboom. The instructor reported that, during a postaccident engine test-run, the engine started and ran without any issues. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that, due to the accident occurring more than 3 years before it was reported by an anonymous person, he was not able to determine the reason for the loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative The helicopter flight instructor reported that, with he and the student both on the controls, about 10 feet above the ground, he initiated a simulated, engine failure autorotation with a power recovery. As they rolled the engine throttle up to recover, the alternator light came on and "the engine quit." About two feet above the ground, the flight instructor raised full collective, leveled the helicopter and the low rotor rpm light illuminated, and the horn sounded. The helicopter landed hard, bounced, settled back onto the runway, and the main rotor blade struck the tailboom. The pilot added that during the accident sequence, the alternator light turned off. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tailboom. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that during his interview with the flight instructor, the pilot stated that the engine might have had a low idle setting and that during the accident flight, he applied full carb heat. The inspector added that due to the accident occurring more than 3 years before it was reported by an anonymous person, he was not able to determine the reason for a reported power loss. The instructor further reported that during a post-accident engine run, the engine started and ran without any issues. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1777V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1777V), registered now, S/N 0623, built 1987 (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 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 0623 - Year built: 1987 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 27, 2015 - Departed: EDC, Austin, TX - Destination: T74, Taylor, TX - Airport: T74, Taylor Muni, runway 17, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 1, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 9,600 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 52 in the last 90 days, 28 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 36; injuries: none; student; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 3-point ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Lowest ceiling: 300 ft overcast - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: KEDC, 12 nm away ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 30, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100377. 4.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480376&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation Flight Instructor (item 2, .PDF, 109 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480377&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20Flight%20Instructor-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 3, .PDF, 122 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480378&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-Master.PDF - Airport Manager Statement (item 4, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480379&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airport%20Manager%20Statement-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.