- Date
- January 12, 1994, 14:15 local (18:15 UTC)
- Place
- Dorado, PR
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N8044YRobinson R-22
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 3, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940112030359A
- Case key
- 37477
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
The flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the student and failing to follow the procedures in the flight training guide.
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 student initiated a 180 deg autorotation with turn and overshot the intended touchdown point. The instructor allowed the student to continue the maneuver to a grassy area located to the right of the intended touchdown point. The power recovery procedures listed in the flight training guide were not followed. A power recovery (increase in throttle), and initial collective pitch application was made about 4-6 ft AGL above 3-FT tall grass. The pilot stated the engine did not respond. The helicopter collided with the terrain and rolled over on its right side. An engine examination and engine run did not reveal any evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction.
Factual narrative
On January 12, 1994, about 1415 Atlantic standard time, a Robinson R22, N8044Y, registered to Hill Construction Corporation, doing business as Hill Aviation, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, crashed while terminating an autorotation with turn and a power recovery. The helicopter sustained substantial damage. The certified flight instructor and student pilot were not injured. The flight originated about 45 minutes before the accident.
The certified flight instructor (CFI) stated the student pilot initiated a 180 degree autorotation with turn at about 500 feet agl. The intended touchdown point was a dirt road. The student pilot overshot the turn while at about 90 feet agl. The CFI allowed the maneuver to continue to a grassy area located to the right of the dirt road. A flare was initiated at about 40 feet agl. A power recovery (increase in throttle), and initial collective pitch application was made at about 4 to 6 feet agl above 3 foot tall grass. The throttle did not respond. The CFI got on the flight controls with the student pilot. The helicopter collided the ground with about 12 to 15 knots forward airspeed, and rolled over on it's right side.
An engine examination and engine run was conducted by the FAA on January 13, 1994. There was no evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction.
The Robinson R22 Flight Training Guide states on page 23:
Note
As the aircraft descends through 100 feet AGL, make an immediate power recovery if the following conditions do not exist:
1. Aircraft aligned with the touchdown point 2. Rotor RPM in the green 3. Airspeed 60 to 70 KTS 4. Rate of descent less than 1500 FPM
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8044Y
- Reported as
- Robinson R-22
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 1138
- Airframe hours
- 2,697
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-B2C, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Hill Construction Corporation
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 21, 1993 · 56 hours before
- Departed
- SIG · Islagrande, PR
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 28
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,071 total · 1,512 in this make and model · 2,034 as pilot in command · 194 in the last 90 days · 86 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 13 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 77 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- SJU, 10 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.