# NTSB MIA05LA148: Robinson R22 Beta, N8320A, Lantana, FL, August 11, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 11, 2005, 12:15 local (16:15 UTC) - Place: Lantana, FL - Coordinates: 26.593055, -80.084999 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.5931&lon=-80.0850&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 28, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 62201 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA05LA148 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62201/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA05LA148 ## Probable cause The CFI's delayed remedial action to recover from a practice autorotation with planned power recovery resulting in a hard landing. ## 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 - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) ## Analysis The airplane landed hard during a practice autorotative landing. The CFI stated that the student had previously demonstrated two practice, straight-in autorotative landings which concluded with a power recovery, and entered a third at 700 feet above ground level (agl) and 70 knots, with the main rotor and engine rpm needles "split", and the throttle in the detent. The student maintained 65 knots during the approach, and flared at 40 feet agl. He (CFI) noted that the helicopter was drifting away from the taxiway centerline so he advised the student to recover. The helicopter was leveled, and he (CFI) applied throttle slowly. While descending, he heard the low rotor warning horn just before impact, and believed the student pulled collective control just before touchdown. The helicopter impacted the ground "hard" on left side, spun to the right, and came to rest upright. The CFI also stated that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the helicopter, or any of its systems. The student reported the flare was normal and the main rotor rpm was still in the green. When the helicopter was leveled off, "...before we could roll the throttle back on, the left skid make contact with the ground." ## Factual narrative On August 11, 2005, about 1215 eastern daylight time, a Robinson R22 Beta, N8320A, registered to a private individual, operated by Airman Testing & Training, Inc., dba Palm Beach Helicopters, experienced a hard landing during a practice autorotative landing at Palm Beach County Park Airport, Lantana, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 local, instructional flight from Palm Beach County Park Airport. The helicopter was substantially damaged and the certified flight instructor (CFI) and commercial-rated student (student) were not injured. The flight originated about 24 minutes earlier from Palm Beach County Park Airport. The CFI stated that the student had previously demonstrated two practice, straight-in autorotative landings which concluded with a power recovery, and entered a third at 700 feet above ground level (agl) and 70 knots, with the main rotor and engine rpm needles "split", and the throttle in the detent. The student maintained 65 knots during the approach, and flared at 40 feet agl. He (CFI) noted that the helicopter was drifting away from the taxiway centerline so he advised the student to recover. The helicopter was leveled, and he (CFI) applied throttle slowly. While descending, he heard the low rotor warning horn just before impact, and believed the student pulled collective control just before touchdown. The helicopter impacted the ground "hard" on left side, spun to the right, and came to rest upright. The CFI also stated that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the helicopter, or any of its systems. The student reported the flare was normal and the main rotor rpm was still in the green. When the helicopter was leveled off, "...before we could roll the throttle back on, the left skid make contact with the ground." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8320A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8320A), registered now, S/N 2510, built 1995 (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) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2510 - Airframe hours: 6827 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-B2C 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Airman Testing & Training, Inc., doing business as Palm Beach Helicopters - Registered owner: Matthew Spitzer - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 1, 2005, 86 hours before - Departed: KLNA, Lantana, FL - Destination: KLNA, Lantana, FL - Airport: KLNA, Palm Beach County Park Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 32; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 1, 2004; seat: right; flight hours: 2,677 total, 1,543 in this make and model, 1,446 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 73 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 20; injuries: none; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 168 total, 102 in this make and model, 122 as pilot in command, 34 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: KPBI ## 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 20050811020719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050811020719A), Aug 11, 2005: Robsin R22BETA, West Palm Beach, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) On August 11, 2005 at about 1215 eastern daylight time, a Robinson R-22-beta, N8320A registered to [privacy data omitted] and operated by the pilot… ## Other investigations on N8320A (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 LAX95LA147](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA147), Mar 28, 1995: Robinson R-22B (N8320A), Byron, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the unsuitable terrain selected by the pilots. 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.