# NTSB LAX95LA153: Robinson R22 Beta, N2323K, Healdsburg, CA, April 2, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 2, 1995, 11:20 local (18:20 UTC) - Place: Healdsburg, CA - Coordinates: 38.630565, -122.89022 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6306&lon=-122.8902&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 19, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29068 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX95LA153 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29068/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA153 ## Probable cause the instructor failed to adequately monitor the student pilot's actions and to react within the control margin necessary to successfully initiate a corrective action. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis THE STUDENT INITIATED A STRAIGHT-IN PRACTICE AUTOROTATION FROM 550 FEET AGL. THE INSTRUCTOR REPORTED THAT DURING THE DESCENT AIRSPEED AND RPM WERE MAINTAINED WITHIN LIMITS. AT 40 FEET AGL, THE STUDENT INITIATED HIS FLARE, BUT APPLIED AFT CYCLIC SO ABRUPTLY AND WITH SUCH FORCE THAT THE INSTRUCTOR WAS UNABLE TO COUNTERACT THE MOVEMENT. THE HELICOPTER CONTINUED TO DESCEND IN A TAIL-LOW ATTITUDE UNTIL THE STINGER AND TAIL ROTOR STRUCK THE GROUND, BUCKLING THE TAILBOOM. THE INSTRUCTOR REPORTED THAT WINDS AT THE ACCIDENT SITE WERE LIGHT AND VARIABLE. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On April 2, 1995, at 1140 hours Pacific daylight time, a Robinson R22 Beta, N2323K, sustained substantial damage during a practice autorotative landing near Healdsburg, California. The helicopter was owned and operated by Peregrine Helicopters, Inc., and was on a dual instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions were prevalent at the time and no flight plan had been filed for the operation. Neither the certified flight instructor nor her certificated private pilot student were injured. The flight originated from the Sonoma County Airport, Santa Rosa, California, at 1040 on the day of the accident. The instructor reported that the student had been performing autorotative landings with power recoveries to a river sandbar. After completing two 180-degree autorotations, the student initiated a straight-in autorotation from 550 feet agl. The instructor reported that during the descent airspeed and rpm were maintained within limits. The instructor reported that the student initiated his flare at 40 feet agl, but that he applied aft cyclic so abruptly and with such force that she was unable to counteract the movement. The helicopter continued to descend in a tail-low attitude until the stinger and tail rotor struck the ground, buckling the tailboom. After the tail struck the ground, the student relinquished the controls and the instructor landed the aircraft. The instructor reported that winds at the accident site were light and variable. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2323K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2323K-1996-02-09), registration cancelled 1996-02-09, S/N 2095 (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) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2095 - Airframe hours: 1888 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-B2C 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Sontag, Hayssen, Blau - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 18, 1995, 76 hours before - Departed: STS, SANTA ROSA, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; commercial; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 312 total, 307 in this make and model, 221 as pilot in command, 43 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: STS, 7 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 19950402013019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950402013019A), Apr 2, 1995: Robsin R22BETA, Healdsburg, CA, Substantial damage. Student flared abruptly during practice autorotation. Impact tail first buckled tailboom. CFI no time to correct. 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.