# NTSB LAX86LA219: Robinson R22, N9072Y, Tucson, AZ, May 15, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 15, 1986, 11:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Tucson, AZ
- Coordinates: 32.059017, -111.419197 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.0590&lon=-111.4192&mi=10
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25160
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX86LA219
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25160/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX86LA219

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Miscellaneous/other, descent
  - autorotation - simulated, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor)
  - rotor rpm - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - proper descent rate - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - crew/group coordination - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown
  - rotor rpm - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor)
  - proper descent rate - exceeded, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor)
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD AFTER A PRACTICE AUTOROTATION WITH A POWER RECOVERY. AT APRX 550 FT AGL THE CFI ANNOUNCED A SIMULATED ENG FAILURE TO THE ATP AND THE THROTTLE WAS CLOSED TO FLIGHT IDLE. THE ATP ENTERED AN AUTOROTATION SMOOTHLY AND TURNED LEFT RAPIDLY INTO THE WIND. DURING THE TURN THE ROTOR RPM BEGAN TO INCREASE AND THE CFI INCREASED THE COLLECTIVE TO MAINTAIN ROTOR RPM WITHIN LIMITS AND THEN REDUCED IT. THE THE ATP BEGAN TO DECELERATE AT 300 FT AGL AND AIRSPEED BEGAN TO DECREASE. AT 55 KTS INDICATED AIRSPEED, THE CFI CALLED FOR A POWER RECOVERY. THE ROTOR RPM BEGAN TO DECREASE AND THE CFI GOT ON THE CONTROLS AND ATTEMPTED TO EXECUTE A POWER RECOVERY. THE ATP HAD A TIGHT GRIP ON THE THROTTLE IN THE OVERRIDE POSITION. THE CFI WAS UNABLE TO TWIST THE THROTTLE TO THE POSITIVE RANGE POSITION. AT 100 FT AGL THE CFI NOTICED LOW ROTOR RPM AND AN EXCESSIVE RATE OF DESCENT. THE CFI FLARED THE ACFT AND ATTEMPTED TO CUSHION THE LANDING BUT THE ACFT LANDED HARD.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N9072Y (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON R22
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 214
- Airframe hours: 1238
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-B2C 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Edward J. Dugan
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 28, 1986, 27 hours before
- Departed: TUS, TUCSON, AZ
- Airport: RYN, Ryan Field

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 2,020 total, 1,920 in this make and model, 4,631 as pilot in command, 175 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: TUS, 17 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 19860515018019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860515018019A), May 15, 1986: Robsin R22, Tucson, AZ, Substantial damage. During recovery from practice autorotation, student froze on controls. Instructor unable to prevent hard touchdown.

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.

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