# NTSB LAX07CA090: Robinson R22 Beta, N453SH, Tucson, AZ, February 19, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 19, 2007, 10:55 local (17:55 UTC) - Place: Tucson, AZ - Coordinates: 32.150215, -110.930717 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.1502&lon=-110.9307&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 29, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 65321 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX07CA090 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65321/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07CA090 ## Probable cause The failure of the student pilot to maintain an adequate main rotor rpm and the instructor’s failure to maintain control of the aircraft. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - emergency procedure - simulated, pilot in command(cfi) - terrain condition - ground - rotor rpm - not maintained, dual student (cause) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) ## Analysis While performing a simulated emergency landing during a Part 91 instructional flight, the helicopter touched down hard on open desert terrain, and a main rotor blade impacted the tail boom. The certified flight instructor was teaching his rotorcraft rated private pilot student to land under a simulated emergency condition where the objective was for the student to "land immediately." As the helicopter descended, the low rotor annunciator light illuminated and the corresponding warning horn sounded. Thereafter, the instructor attempted to perform a recovery. According to the instructor, initially both he and his student were simultaneously attempting to take corrective action and the student "had too strong a grip on the throttle for me to overcome." The instructor was handling the controls as the rotorcraft approached and contacted the ground. The instructor stated that despite his efforts, the helicopter touched down hard. No mechanical malfunctions were experienced during the flight. ## Factual narrative On February 19, 2007, about 1055 mountain standard time, a Robinson R22 Beta, N453SH, touched down hard on open desert terrain about 10 nautical miles southwest of Tucson, Arizona. During touchdown, a main rotor blade impacted and bent the tail boom. Also, the horizontal stabilizer was bent. The helicopter was operated by Silver State Helicopters, Tucson. The rotorcraft was substantially damaged. Neither the certified flight instructor (CFI), who held a commercial pilot certificate, nor the rotorcraft-rated private pilot, who was receiving flight instruction, were injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and it originated from Tucson about 1040. The CFI reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that the mishap occurred during landing practice. The CFI was instructing his student to land under a simulated emergency condition where the objective was for the student to "land immediately" following an event such as blade delamination. The student was attempting to comply with his direction. During the emergency descent, the low rotor annunciator light illuminated, and the corresponding warning horn sounded. The CFI observed that the helicopter's main rotor blade rpm decreased, and he attempted to perform a recovery. According to the CFI, initially both he and his student were simultaneously attempting to take corrective action. However, the student "had too strong a grip on the throttle for me to overcome." The CFI was handling the controls as the rotorcraft approached and contacted the ground. The CFI stated that despite his efforts, the helicopter touched down hard. No mechanical malfunctions were experienced during the flight. In a subsequent statement, the CFI reported that during the final seconds of flight he believes a "gust of wind...caused the aircraft to sink." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N453SH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N453SH-2013-04-15), registration cancelled 2013-04-15, S/N 4025, built 2006 (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-J2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-j2a) (registry code 42314, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 4025 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-J2A reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Silver State Helicopters - Registered owner: Shining Star Helicopters, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: TUS, Tucson, AZ - Destination: TUS, Tucson, AZ ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 43; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2; flight hours: 857 total, 310 in this make and model, 197 in the last 90 days, 79 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 28; private; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2; flight hours: 197 total, 18 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 18 knots, gusting 24 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: TUS, 9 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 20070219002619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070219002619A), Feb 19, 2007: Robsin R22BETA, Tucson, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) N453SH departed the Tucson airport on a training flight. Take off weight was calculated to be 1320 lbs. The flight lasted 30 minutes. Pilot stated: "the… ## Other investigations on N453SH (1) 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. - [NTSB SEA07CA233](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07CA233), Aug 13, 2007: Robinson R-22 Beta II (N453SH), Tucson, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's failure to maintain rotor RPM during landing approach, and the delayed remedial action by the flight instructor. A contributing factor was the high density altitude weather… 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.