# NTSB LAX02LA239: Robinson R22 Beta, N232DR, Prescott, AZ, July 27, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 27, 2002, 13:15 local (20:15 UTC) - Place: Prescott, AZ - Coordinates: 34.654445, -112.419441 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6544&lon=-112.4194&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviaition Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 55317 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX02LA239 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55317/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55317 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA239 ## Probable cause the student pilot's failure to maintain adequate main rotor rpm, the CFI's delayed remedial action and inadequate supervision of the flight, resulting in a hard landing. Wind gusts and the high density altitude were factors in the accident. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - autorotation - simulated, dual student - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor) - rotor rpm - not maintained, dual student (cause) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - Roll over, landing - flare/touchdown ## Analysis The helicopter landed hard and rolled over while attempting a practice autorotation in a field. The certified flight instructor (CFI) and student pilot experienced light turbulence and lost about 100 feet of altitude prior to the autorotation entry. About 200 feet above ground level (agl), the rotor rpm gauge showed a drop and the warning horn sounded momentarily. The student lowered the collective and the helicopter began a high sink rate. The CFI initiated a power recovery in an effort to counteract the sink rate, but the helicopter continued to sink and the rotor rpm remained low. A few feet above the ground, with the helicopter still sinking, the CFI decided to level the helicopter and brace for impact. The skids contacted the forward sloping terrain in a straight and flat attitude. The helicopter experienced a forward, left roll, and came to rest on its left side. The CFI and student pilot thought the abnormally high sink rate could have been a result of the adverse wind conditions in the area. A routine aviation weather report (METAR) for PRC, about 10 miles away on a bearing of 035 degrees, reported winds at 5 knots, gusting to 17 knots. ## Factual narrative On July 27, 2002, about 1315 mountain standard time, a Robinson R22 Beta, N232DR, experienced a hard landing while attempting a practice autorotation in a field near Prescott, Arizona. Guidance Helicopters Inc. owned and operated the helicopter under 14 CFR Part 91. The certified flight instructor (CFI) and student pilot were not injured; the helicopter sustained substantial damage. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed. The local instructional flight originated from Ernest A. Love Field Airport (PRC), Prescott, Arizona, about 1240. In a written statement, the CFI reported that the purpose of the flight was for the student to practice maneuvers for his upcoming check ride. After completing several maneuvers at the airport, they flew to a familiar practice area and the student performed an uneventful practice straight-in autorotation. On the second attempt, they experienced light turbulence and lost about 100 feet of altitude prior to the autorotation entry. They decided to proceed with the maneuver because they still had sufficient altitude and airspeed. About 200 feet above ground level (agl), the main rotor rpm gauge showed a drop and the warning horn sounded momentarily. The student lowered the collective and the helicopter began a high sink rate. The CFI initiated a power recovery in an effort to counteract the sink rate about 100 to 150 feet above ground level (agl). The helicopter continued to sink and the rotor rpm remained low. A few feet above the ground, with the helicopter still sinking, the CFI decided to level the helicopter and brace for impact. The skids contacted the forward sloping terrain in a straight and flat attitude. The helicopter experienced a forward, left roll, and came to rest on its left side. In a written statement, the student pilot reported that during the practice autorotation the sink rate increased and the main rotor rpm dropped slightly. He lowered the collective and began to flare about 40 feet agl. The CFI increased power and the low rotor rpm horn came back on about 4 to 6 feet agl. The helicopter touched down on the uneven terrain and rolled on its left side. Both the CFI and student pilot walked away from the wreckage to the nearest road. The CFI and student pilot thought the abnormally high sink rate could have been a result of the adverse wind conditions in the area. During the accident the helicopter incurred damage to the fuselage, tail boom, main rotor, and drive train. A routine aviation weather report (METAR) for PRC, about 10 miles away on a bearing of 035 degrees, reported winds at 5 knots, gusting to 17 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N232DR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N232DR-2012-06-01), registration cancelled 2012-06-01, S/N 3372, built 2002 (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-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (registry code 41575, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 3350 - Airframe hours: 23.4 - Engines: Textron Lycoming O-360-J2A 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Guidance Helicopters Inc. - Registered owner: Florentine Investments LLC. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 11, 2002, 18.4 hours before - Departed: PRC, Prescott, AZ - Destination: PRC, Prescott, AZ - Airport: KPRC, Ernest A. Love Field Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 25; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review December 7, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 742 total, 602 in this make and model, 692 as pilot in command, 199 in the last 90 days, 83 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 21; injuries: none; student; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 80 total, 80 in this make and model, 10 as pilot in command, 79 in the last 90 days, 42 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 5 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft broken - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: PRC, 10 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 20020727016779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020727016779A), Jul 27, 2002: Robsin R22BETA, Prescott, AZ, No damage. (-23) Aircraft was on a training flight, when the instructor was demonstrating an auto-rotation for the student. During the procedure, the aircraft entered a… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 4, 2004, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55317. 428 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 428 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40463897&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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.