- Date
- January 30, 1992, 13:55 local (18:55 UTC)
- Place
- Malabar, FL
- Injuries
- 2 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N2313GRobinson R-22 Beta
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 2, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19920130001409A
- Case key
- 32979
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
A divergence of the main rotor from its normal plane of rotation for an undetermined reason which resulted in mast bumping and a main rotor blade contact with the cockpit area.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The CFI and the rated student pilot were in level flight when one rotor blade struck the cabin area. The helicopter descended out of control and crashed. Further examination of the wreckage revealed evidence of main rotor blade divergence, mast bumping, and fracture of the main rotor mast. Examination of the flight controls revealed overload fractures of the cyclic and collective control tubes. The CFI had completed an instructional flight with another student 1/2 hour prior to the accident. The student stated they maintained a 70 knot cruise speed and performed turns maintaining altitude and heading, and the CFI demonstated low rotor RPM and recoveries.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2313G
- Reported as
- Robinson R-22 Beta
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 2015
- Airframe hours
- 86
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-B2C, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Melbourne Helicopters Inc.
- Registered owner
- Medicopter Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Continuous airworthiness · November 20, 1991 · 86 hours before
- Departed
- MLB · Melbourne, FL
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 26
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Airline transport, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Multi-engine land, Single-engine land, Multi-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter, Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 2,929 total · 9 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 230° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 73 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MLB, 4 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.