# NTSB MIA07CA079: Robinson R-22 Beta II, N7535Z, West Palm Beach, FL, April 27, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 27, 2007, 11:15 local (15:15 UTC) - Place: West Palm Beach, FL - Coordinates: 26.845277, -80.504722 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.8453&lon=-80.5047&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 27, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Fort Lauderdale, Florida - NTSB case key (mKey): 65696 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA07CA079 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65696/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA07CA079 ## Probable cause The student pilot's inadvertent shutting off of the mixture control while performing the prelanding checks that resulted loss of engine power and a roll over during the subsequent forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - downwind - checklist - improper, dual student (cause) - mixture - inadvertent deactivation, dual student (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Roll over, landing - flare/touchdown ## Analysis The flight instructor stated that he and his student were on downwind at an altitude of 500 feet, preparing to land the helicopter. He further stated that as they performed prelanding checks, the student pilot within the space of a second removed the guard and pulled the mixture, causing the helicopter's engine to cease operating. The instructor said he immediately entered autorotation, and further stated that the wind was coming from the left, i.e. from the south, and there was no place to turn left due to trees and a road, so he turned right. He said he then saw some trees so he continued to turn right to an open grove, and then started "full down." The student was depressing the right pedal, and the instructor said he continued to maintain rpm as high as possible for the full down, pushed forward, and affected the landing. He said the helicopter landed and continued with its nose to the left due to the right pedal being depressed by the student, and it rolled slightly on its right skid, then collapsed, and came to rest on its belly. ## Factual narrative The flight instructor stated that he and his student were on downwind at an altitude of 500 feet, preparing to land the helicopter. He further stated that as they performed prelanding checks, the student pilot within the space of a second removed the guard and pulled the mixture, causing the helicopter's engine to cease operating. The instructor said he immediately entered autorotation, and further stated that the wind was coming from the left, i.e. from the south, and there was no place to turn left due to trees and a road, so he turned right. He said he then saw some trees so he continued to turn right to an open grove, and then started "full down." The student was depressing the right pedal, and the instructor said he continued to maintain rpm as high as possible for the full down, pushed forward, and affected the landing. He said the helicopter landed and continued with its nose to the left due to the right pedal being depressed by the student, and it rolled slightly on its right skid, then collapsed, and came to rest on its belly. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7535Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7535Z-2025-04-17), registration cancelled 2025-04-17, S/N 3477, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Robinson R-22 Beta II - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (registry code 7640110) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (registry code 41575, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 3477 - Airframe hours: 2855 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Ocean Helicopters Inc., - Registered owner: Airman Helicopters - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 1, 2007 - Departed: F45, West Palm Beach, FL - Destination: F45 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 30; injuries: none; commercial; medical: class 1; last flight review July 1, 2006; seat: left; flight hours: 640 total, 600 in this make and model, 505 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 63 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 33; injuries: none; medical: class 1; seat: right; flight hours: 59 total, 59 in this make and model, 8 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 14 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: PBI ## 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 20070427009019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070427009019A), Apr 27, 2007: Robsin R22BETA, West Palm Beac, FL, Destroyed. (-23) The helicopter was engaged in instruction at the north county airport (F45) which is located in west Palm Beach, FL. While working in the traffic pattern… ## Other investigations on N7535Z (2) 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 ERA24LA203](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA203), Apr 30, 2024: Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta (N7535Z), Louisburg, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot under instruction’s inadvertent use of the mixture control, which resulted in a total loss of engine power. - [NTSB LAX05CA078](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05CA078), Jan 28, 2005: Robinson R22 (N7535Z), Chandler, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: the certified flight instructor's inadequate use of the antitorque control pedals while adding throttle, which led to a loss of directional control. 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.