- Date
- January 28, 2005, 16:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place
- Chandler, AZ
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N7535ZRobinson R22
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 28, 2005
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20050128034219A
- Case key
- 60932
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 certified flight instructor's inadequate use of the antitorque control pedals while adding throttle, which led to a loss of directional control.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The helicopter collided with terrain following a loss of antitorque control during a practice slope landing. On the third or fourth practice landing, the helicopter's skids were positioned so that the rear portions angled downwards toward lower terrain. As the student pilot configured the flight controls to remove the load off the rotor blades, the tail of the helicopter began to tip backwards. The CFI took control of the helicopter and added power to prevent the tail rotor from striking terrain. The helicopter responded by rotating to the right about the vertical axis. The CFI attempted to maintain level flight and counteract the spin by applying antitorque pedal input, but was unable to maintain control of the helicopter. After four or five revolutions to the right, the helicopter's right front section impacted terrain
Factual narrative
On January 28, 2005, about 1630 mountain standard time, a Robinson R22, N7535Z, collided with terrain during a practice landing near Chandler Municipal Airport, Chandler, Arizona. Quantum Helicopters was operating the helicopter under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The certified flight instructor (CFI) and pilot undergoing instruction (PUI) were not injured; the helicopter sustained substantial damage. The local instructional flight originated from Chandler about 1525. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed.
In a telephone conversation with a National Transportation Safety Board investigator, the CFI stated that the PUI was performing practice slope landings. On the third or fourth practice landing, the helicopter touched down on uneven terrain. The helicopter's skids were positioned so that the rear portions angled downwards toward lower terrain. As the student pilot configured the flight controls to remove the load off the rotor blades, the tail of the helicopter began to tip backwards.
The CFI took control of the helicopter and added power to prevent the tail rotor from striking terrain. The helicopter responded by rotating to the right about the vertical axis. The pilot attempted to maintain level flight and counteract the spin by applying antitorque pedal input, but was unable to maintain control of the helicopter. After four or five revolutions to the right, the helicopter's right front section impacted terrain. The helicopter sustained damage to the tail cone assembly and both rotor blades. The pilot was unable to verify the orientation of the cyclic during the accident.
The CFI reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7535Z
- Reported as
- Robinson R22
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 3477
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360 Series, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Quantum Helicopters
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- CHD · Chandler, AZ
- Destination
- CHD · Chandler, AZ
- Airport
- CHD · Chandler Municipal Airport
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
- 42
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2
- Flight hours
- 555 total · 555 in this make and model · 172 in the last 90 days
- Role
- Student pilot
- Age
- 26
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 2
- Flight hours
- 141 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N7535Z · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.