# NTSB MIA05CA051: Robinson R22, N26498, Gulf Port, MS, January 18, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 18, 2005, 12:20 local (18:20 UTC) - Place: Gulf Port, MS - Coordinates: 30.407222, -89.069999 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.4072&lon=-89.0700&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 30, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 60877 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA05CA051 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60877/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA05CA051 ## Probable cause The student pilot's inadequate flare and his failure to maintain rotor rpm which resulted in a hard landing. Also causal was the instructor's inadequate supervision of the flight. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - autorotation - simulated, dual student - flare - improper, dual student (cause) - rotor rpm - not maintained, dual student (cause) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) ## Analysis The instructor stated, the student entered a well maintained 70-knot glide prior to performing the autorotation recovery. The student flared too high, 10 to 12 feet agl and kept the throttle closed, preventing the governor from restoring the rpm needed to recover from the maneuver. The lack of sufficient lift and low altitude did not allow him to slow the descent. The skids and the tailboom of the helicopter incurred substantial damage from the hard landing. The student pilot stated, everything at the time of the flare was normal; however, the instructor took control of the aircraft and felt him trying to roll the throttle on, but for some reason, the student was unable to release the throttle. The helicopter landed hard from about 5 to 6 feet above the ground. ## Factual narrative On January 18, 2005, at approximately 1220 central standard time, a Robinson R22, N26498, registered to and operated by Vortex Helicopters Inc., experienced a hard landing. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight. The flight instructor and student pilot reported no injuries, and the helicopter incurred substantial damage. The flight originated from Vortex Heliport, Long Beach, Mississippi, earlier that day, about 1200. The instructor stated, the student entered a well maintained 70-knot glide prior to performing the autorotation recovery. The student flared too high, 10 to 12 feet agl and kept the throttle closed, preventing the governor from restoring the rpm needed to recover from the maneuver. The lack of sufficient lift and low altitude did not allow him to slow the decent. The skids and the tailboom of the helicopter incurred substantial damage from the hard landing. The student pilot stated, everything at the time of the flare was normal; however, the instructor took control of the aircraft and felt him trying to roll the throttle on, but for some reason, the student was unable to release the throttle. The helicopter landed hard from about 5 to 6 feet above the ground. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N26498](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N26498), registered now, S/N 0836, built 1988 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Robinson R22 - 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: 836 - Airframe hours: 10960.7 - Engines: Lycoming 0320B2C 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Vortex Helicopoters Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 30, 2004, 35.1 hours before - Departed: K35M, Long beach, MS - Destination: KGPT, BILOXI, MS - Airport: KGPT, Gulfport Biloxi International ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 22; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review July 7, 2004; seat: front; flight hours: 511 total, 511 in this make and model, 358 as pilot in command, 172 in the last 90 days, 37 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 35 total, 35 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 14 °F - Altimeter: 30.65 inHg - Observed at: GPT ## 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 20050118000229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050118000229A), Jan 18, 2005: Robsin R22BETA, Gulfport, MS, Substantial damage. (-23) CFI was instructing autorotations 1/18/05 at gpt. On second attempt the entry and glide were good, the student had throttle closed rather than letting… ## Other investigations on N26498 (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 CEN19LA187](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA187), Jun 28, 2019: Robinson R22 (N26498), Danbury, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: A failed electrical relay, which provided an improper indication of a governor and clutch problem, which resulted in the pilot conducting a precautionary landing during which he failed to maintain… 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.