# NTSB MIA05LA080: Robinson R44, N1ZP, Homestead, FL, March 19, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 19, 2005, 15:15 local (20:15 UTC) - Place: Homestead, FL - Coordinates: 25.498611, -80.554168 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.4986&lon=-80.5542&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Emergency descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/600) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 7, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 61188 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA05LA080 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61188/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA05LA080 ## Probable cause The CFI's inadequate supervision of the student during the instructional flight for his failure to stop an excessive rate of descent which resulted in a hard landing following a reported loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Analysis The certified flight instructor stated that the student had performed 11 previous autorotative landings with power recovery on that particular flight, the accident being the 12th. The student initiated the maneuver from an altitude of approximately 500 feet, at an indicated airspeed of between 65-75 knots. He maintained 65 knots during the descent, and when the flight was approximately 75 feet above ground level (agl), he flared. The autorotation continued and when the flight was approximately 20 feet agl at an indicated airspeed of approximately 20 knots, the student added power, but the helicopter yawed to the left. The certified flight instructor (CFI) got on the controls and when the flight was approximately 10 feet agl, and at an indicated airspeed between 10 and 20 knots, he pulled collective but the helicopter impacted on grass right skid low. The helicopter then pivoted 90 degrees to the right, and rolled onto its right side. The student pilot reported that he departed to perform another practice autorotative landing and when the flight was on the downwind leg abeam runway 36, he applied carburetor heat, checked for annunciation lights, and the intended touchdown area. He announced his intentions on the common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF), turned base and final, slowed to approximately 70 knots, questioned if the CFI was ready, counted to three, and entered the maneuver at approximately 500 feet. He applied right anti-torque pedal input, aft cyclic control, and maintained approximately 65 to 70 knots during the descent keeping the main rotor rpm at approximately 100 percent. He flared when the flight was approximately 50 to 60 feet, slowed to a walking speed, continued descending, leveled the helicopter, and applied throttle input to recover to a hover. He looked back in the cockpit and noted the CFI grab the controls. The helicopter contacted the grass and rolled onto its right side. He further reported that he did not hear the low rotor warning horn, could not recall if the helicopter yawed when he applied power to recover, and was surprised to see the CFI grab the controls. Postaccident the engine was operated in a test stand with a test club installed; no discrepancies were noted. ## Factual narrative On March 19, 2005, about 1515 eastern standard time, a Robinson R44 helicopter, N1ZP, registered to a private individual, was landed hard at Homestead General Aviation Airport, Homestead, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 instructional, local flight, from Kendall-Tamiami Executive Airport, Miami, Florida. The helicopter was substantially damaged and the certified flight instructor (CFI), and student pilot were not injured. The flight originated about 1355, from Kendall-Tamiami Executive Airport. The certified flight instructor stated that the student had performed 11 previous straight-in autorotative landings with a power recovery. On another practice autorotative landing, the student initiated the maneuver from an altitude of approximately 500 feet, at an indicated airspeed of between 65-75 knots. He maintained 65 knots during the descent, and when the flight was approximately 75 feet above ground level (agl), he flared. The autorotation continued, and when the flight was approximately 20 feet agl at an indicated airspeed of approximately 20 knots, the student added power, but the helicopter yawed to the left. The CFI got on the controls and when the flight was approximately 10 feet agl, and at an indicated airspeed between 10 and 20 knots, he pulled collective but the helicopter impacted on grass right skid low. The helicopter then pivoted 90 degrees to the right, and rolled onto its right side. The installed emergency locator transmitter (ELT) activated. The student pilot reported that after takeoff, the flight proceeded to the Homestead General Aviation Airport; where, before the occurrence, he had performed approximately 10 uneventful practice autorotative landings with power recovery. He departed to perform another practice autorotative landing and when the flight was on the downwind leg abeam runway 36, he applied carburetor heat, checked for annunciation lights, and the intended touchdown area. He announced his intentions on the common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF), turned base and final, slowed to approximately 70 knots, questioned if the CFI was ready, counted to three, and entered the maneuver at approximately 500 feet. He applied right anti-torque pedal input, aft cyclic control, and maintained approximately 65 to 70 knots during the descent keeping the main rotor rpm at approximately 100 percent. He flared when the flight was approximately 50 to 60 feet, slowed to a walking speed, continued descending, leveled the helicopter, and applied throttle input to recover to a hover. He looked back in the cockpit and noted the CFI grab the controls. The helicopter contacted the grass and rolled onto its right side. He further reported that he did not hear the low rotor warning horn, could not recall if the helicopter yawed when he applied power to recover, and was surprised to see the CFI grab the controls. Postaccident, the carburetor bowl was drained which revealed large particles; however, the inlet screen was clean. The engine was removed from the helicopter, placed in a test stand with a test club, and with NTSB oversight, started and operated to 2,000 to 2,100 rpm at full throttle (specification with test club installed); no discrepancies were noted during the engine run. The helicopter minus the engine was released to Christopher Dannecker, of CTC Services Aviation (LAD, Inc.), on April 14, 2005. The engine was also released to Christopher Dannecker on April 20, 2005. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Miscellaneous/other, descent - emergency - autorotation - intentional, dual student - Loss of engine power, descent - reason for occurrence undetermined - Hard landing, descent - emergency - proper descent rate - not maintained, dual student - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1ZP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1ZP-2008-07-01), registration cancelled 2008-07-01, S/N 1037, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Robinson R44 - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R44](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44) (registry code 7640120) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540F1 SERIE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540f1-serie) (registry code 41531, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 1037 - Airframe hours: 923.2 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-F1B5 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 21, 2004, 45.8 hours before - Departed: KTMB, Miami, FL - Destination: X51, HOMESTEAD, FL - Airport: X51, Homestead General Aviation, runway 36, 4,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 47; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, multi-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review September 20, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 10,279 total, 300 in this make and model, 10,091 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 39; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 68 total, 45 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KHST 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.