- Date
- October 5, 1992, 12:26 local (16:26 UTC)
- Place
- Naples, FL
- Injuries
- 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N2321XRobinson R22 Beta
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 21, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19921005045269A
- Case key
- 33187
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
Incorrect airspeed, insufficient airspeed, and failure of the pilot in command to perform the correct emergency procedure following the in flight loss of control. Contributing to the accident was self induced pressure by the pilot in command.
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 plt stated that during his first pass while over trees, for a photographic run, the helicopter experienced a slight yawing tendency. During the second pass at the same airspeed but at a lower altitude (between 25 and 50 ft above the trees) the helicopter entered an uncommanded rt yaw. He lowered the collective control and pushed the cyclic but did not adjust the throttle. The spinning descent continued until impact with the trees then the ground. Exam of the damaged tail rotor blades by an FAA airworthiness inspector indicate evidence of rotation at impact. The plt's boss was the photographer.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2321X
- Reported as
- Robinson R22 Beta
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 1976
- Airframe hours
- 460
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-B2C, 131 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work use · Part 91
- Operator
- The London Co.
- Registered owner
- The London Co.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · August 2, 1992 · 60 hours before
- Departed
- APF
- Airport
- APF · Naples Municipal
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
- 27
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane, Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 912 total · 79 in this make and model · 13 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 290° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- APF, 1 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.
Other investigations on N2321X · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.