# NTSB LAX01LA156: Robinson R22 beta, N806EH, Fortuna, CA, April 23, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 23, 2001, 16:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Fortuna, CA - Coordinates: 40.56916, -124.150512 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5692&lon=-124.1505&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flt Standards Dist Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 52121 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX01LA156 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52121/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA156 ## Probable cause The student's improper procedure during a practice emergency that exceeded the instructor's reaction capability. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Roll over, hover - autorotation - initiated, pilot in command(cfi) - emergency procedure - improper, dual student (cause) - remedial action - not possible, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) ## Analysis The student pilot was practicing hover autorotation maneuvers. Three hover autorotations had been conducted jointly, with both the student and the flight instructor on the flight controls. The fourth attempt was to be done with only the student holding the fllight controls. According to the instructor, when he reduced the throttle to initiate the practice hover autorotation, the student lowered the collective so abruptly that he could not prevent a hard landing. After landing, the helicopter rolled onto its side. ## Factual narrative On April 23, 2001, at 1600 hours Pacific daylight time, a Robinson R22 Beta, N806EH, rolled over while completing an autorotative landing in Fortuna, California. The helicopter sustained substantial damage; however, neither the certificated flight instructor nor his student were injured. Executive Helicopters, Inc., was operating the helicopter as an instructional flight under 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The flight originated from the Sacramento Executive Airport about 1530. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan had been filed. The helicopter departed for a local instructional flight at Franklin Field in Fortuna. According to the instructor, they were in the process of practicing a series of over autorotations. The first three were conducted jointly. On the fourth hover autorotation the student abruptly lowered the collective as the instructor reduced the throttle and the helicopter touched down hard. The helicopter then rolled onto its side. The instructor stated that the student pushed the collective so quickly he had insufficient time to react. The pilot reported 580 hours of total flight time and 300 hours as an instructor. All flight time and instruction had been in the make and model. Winds at Sacramento were reported as from 320 degrees at 4 knots with 10 miles of visibility. In the operator's aircraft accident report, form 6120.1/2, he reported the total time on the airframe as 9,675 hours and it had been 93 hours since its last inspection. He also reported the helicopter damage. Both the main and tail rotor were damaged from the impact, and damage to the airframe, drive train, and tail boom was also evident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N806EH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N806EH), registered now, S/N 1452, built 1990 (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: 1452 - Airframe hours: 5687 - Engines: Lycoming IO-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Executive Helicopters, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 18, 2001, 38 hours before - Departed: SAC, Sacramento, CA - Destination: Q53, Franklin Field, CA - Airport: Q53, Franklin Field, runway 09, 3,100 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review December 2, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 580 total, 580 in this make and model, 533 as pilot in command, 180 in the last 90 days, 85 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 21; injuries: none; student; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 20 total, 20 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: SAC, 26 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 20010423010979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010423010979A), Apr 23, 2001: Robsin R22BETA, Franklin, CA, No damage. (-23)The student and flight instructor were practicing hovering autorotations. During the maneuver, the student lowered the collective rapidly and the aircraft… 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.