# NTSB MIA01LA049: Robinson R-22 Beta, N195HC, Ciales, PR, December 26, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 26, 2000, 16:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Ciales, PR - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 19, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 51249 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA01LA049 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51249/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA01LA049 ## Probable cause the flight crew's failure to follow procedures for a straight-in autorotation with power recovery that resulted in their improper use of collective resulting in a hard landing and substantial damage to the helicopter. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - autorotation - performed, flightcrew - procedures/directives - not followed, flightcrew (cause) - collective - improper use of, flightcrew (cause) ## Analysis The flight instructor stated that he and the student had been performing autorotation landings in an open field, and when power was required by him to affect the recovery, the engine did not produce enough power. The instructor further stated that the helicopter landed hard and the main rotor hit the tail boom, separating half of it from the rest of the helicopter. An FAA inspector and an FAA licensed company mechanic examined the accident helicopter, and performed a static power test on the engine. According to the inspector, the static check was conducted for about 15 minutes, with the engine operating at idle and at full power, and no abnormalities were observed. In addition, the inspector stated that examination of the fuel filter revealed no evidence of fuel contamination. ## Factual narrative On December 26, 2000, about 1630 Atlantic standard time, a Robinson R-22 Beta, N195HC, registered to and operated by Copters Incorporated, as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, experienced a hard landing in an open field in Ciales, Puerto Rico. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The helicopter incurred substantial damage, and the commercial-rated flight instructor and one student were not injured. The flight originated from Isla Grande, the same day, about 1545. The flight instructor stated that he and the student had been performing autorotation landings in an open field, and they had done three or four autorotation landings with both him and the student at the controls. The instructor further stated that during the last autorotation, when power was required by him to affect the recovery, the engine did not produce enough power, and the helicopter landed hard. He stated that when the helicopter impacted, the skids paralleled the ground, and the main rotor hit the tail boom, separating half of it from the rest of the helicopter. According to the instructor, the autorotation was started at no less than 500 feet above ground level, and during the maneuver airspeed and rotor RPMs were kept at appropriate settings. On December 28, 2000, an FAA inspector and an FAA licensed company mechanic examined the accident helicopter, and performed a static power test on the engine. According to the inspector, the static test was performed with the engine operating at idle, and at full power for about 15 minutes. The inspector stated that during the static test no abnormalities were observed. In addition, the inspector further stated that they checked the engine fuel filter and found no evidence of fuel contamination. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N195HC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N195HC-2015-05-20), registration cancelled 2015-05-20, S/N 2007, built 1991 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Robinson R-22 BETA - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (registry code 7640110) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2007 - Airframe hours: 3267 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-B2C 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Copters Corporation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 13, 2000, 24 hours before - Departed: TSIG, SAN JUAN, PR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 930 total, 387 in this make and model, 866 as pilot in command, 46 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,500 ft broken - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: JSJ ## 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 20001226025239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001226025239A), Dec 26, 2000: Robsin R22BETA, Manati, No damage. (-23) On December 26, 2000, at approx. 2100Z, in Manati, puerto rico, an R-22, helicopter from avitech, had an emergency landing in which the aircraft was… 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.