MIA98LA012

NTSB accident investigation · Robinson R22 Beta · Pompano Beach, FL · October 17, 1997

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
October 17, 1997, 09:46 local (13:46 UTC)
Place
Pompano Beach, FL
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N333PHRobinson R22 Beta
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report January 7, 1998
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19971017031389A
Case key
38418

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.

The improper use of collective control by the dual student which prevented the flight instructor from stopping an uncontrolled roll to the left.

Analysis

During power recovery from an autorotation landing the dual student allowed the rotor speed to slow. The helicopter touched down on the aft part of the skids and then bounced forward where the left skid contacted the turf. As the helicopter started to roll to the left the student increased collective as the flight instructor was trying to regain control by decreasing collective. The helicopter rolled over to the left and came to rest.

Factual narrative

On October 17, 1997, about 0946 eastern daylight time, a Robinson R22 Beta, N333PH, registered to Pompano Helicopters, Inc., rolled over during landing at Pompano Beach Airpark, Pompano Beach, Florida, while on a Title 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The helicopter received substantial damage and the commercial-rated flight instructor and dual student were not injured. The flight originated from Pompano Beach, the same day, about 0930.

The flight instructor stated they were performing an autorotation landing. The student was flying the helicopter. The student flared for landing and as the helicopter leveled it was still moving forward slowly. The student initiated a power recovery at which time the low rotor rpm horn sounded and the helicopter began to settle. The back of the skids hit the turf and they bounced forward. The left skid hit the turf and the helicopter began to lift up. The student continued to raise up on the collective as the instructor was trying to push down on the collective. The instructor was not able to establish a proper recovery and the helicopter turned over to the left as a result of dynamic roll over.

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.

Roll overLanding - flare/touchdown
Collective - improper use ofDual studentCause
Aircraft control - not possiblePilot in command(cfi)
Dynamic rollover

Aircraft

Registration
N333PH
Reported as
Robinson R22 Beta
Category
Helicopter
Serial number
2326
Airframe hours
3,548
Engine
Lycoming O-320-B2C, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Registered owner
Pompano Helicopters, Inc.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
PMP
Airport
PMP · Pompano Beach Airpark, runway 32, 4,419 × 150 ft, grass/turf

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
28
Certificates
Commercial, Flight instructor
Instrument ratings
Helicopter
Medical
Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Left
Flight hours
249 total · 120 in this make and model · 200 as pilot in command · 74 in the last 90 days · 29 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
Calm
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
82 °F, dew point 70 °F
Altimeter
29.00 inHg
Observed at
PMP, 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.