# NTSB MIA05CA002: Robinson R-22, N220CK, Pompano Beach, FL, October 2, 2004

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: October 2, 2004, 16:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: Pompano Beach, FL
- Coordinates: 26.246944, -80.111114
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.2469&lon=-80.1111&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report December 28, 2004
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- NTSB case key (mKey): 60372
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA05CA002
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60372/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA05CA002

## Probable cause

The flight crew's excessive descent rate during landing, resulting in a hard landing, and the tail boom being severed.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - misjudged, pilot in command
  - descent - excessive, flightcrew (cause)
  - misc rotorcraft,main rotor/tail boom contact

## Analysis

The flight instructor stated that he and his student were on their fourth or fifth autorotation, and it looked as if they were going to overshoot the spot of intended landing, so they performed some "S" turns, and initiated a flare. He said during the flare the helicopter continued to descend, and it impacted the ground on the rear of the skids, severing the tail boom.

## Factual narrative

On October 2, 2004, about 1630 eastern daylight time, a Robinson R-22 helicopter, N220CK, registered to and operated by Helicopters of America, as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, made a hard landing at Pompano Beach Airpark, Pompano Beach, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The commercial-rated flight instruction and student received minor injuries, and the helicopter incurred substantial damage. The flight originated at Pompano Beach, Florida, the same day, about 1625.

The flight instructor stated that he and his student had been flying for about an hour prior to the accident. He further stated that they were on their fourth or fifth autorotation, and it looked as if they were going to overshoot the spot of intended landing, so they performed some "S" turns, and initiated a flare. He said during the flare the helicopter continued to descend, and it impacted the ground on the rear of the skids, severing the tail boom.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N220CK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N220CK-2005-02-09), registration cancelled 2005-02-09, S/N 3067, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Robinson R-22
- Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (registry code 7640110) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 3067
- Airframe hours: 3343
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-J2A 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Helicopters of America
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, September 11, 2004, 53 hours before
- Departed: PMP, Pompano Beach, FL
- Destination: PMP

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 30; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review June 1, 2003; flight hours: 1,560 total, 1,150 in this make and model, 1,500 as pilot in command, 265 in the last 90 days, 85 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours
- Student pilot; age 52; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 147 total, 100 in this make and model, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 100° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observed at: PMP

## 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 20041002029779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041002029779A), Oct 2, 2004: Robsin R22BETA, Pompano Beach, FL, Destroyed. (-23) On 10/02/2004 about 1630 EST helicopter, R-22, N220CK, while practicing auto-rotations overshot selected spot, did "s" turns prior to flaring and fell…

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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