# NTSB NYC01LA204: Robinson R22, N4066G, Islip, NY, August 5, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 5, 2001, 16:55 local (20:55 UTC) - Place: Islip, NY - Coordinates: 40.72985, -73.209121 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7298&lon=-73.2091&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 27, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 52944 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC01LA204 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52944/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC01LA204 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's delayed remedial action during a practice autorotation. Factors included the flight instructor's overconfidence in the pilot receiving instruction, and that pilot's improper recovery from a practice autorotation. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - complacency, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - autorotation - improper, copilot/second pilot (contributing factor) ## Analysis The private helicopter pilot under instruction was practicing autorotations. He completed 10 straight-in autorotations, followed by 5, 180-degree autorotations. During the last autorotation, the flight instructor noted that as the helicopter was approaching the ground, its nose was too low, so he took the controls and tried to level it. He was able to bleed off some of the vertical and forward airspeed; however, the left skid touched down and dug into the turf, and the helicopter tumbled forward and came to rest on its side. The pilot receiving instruction had 1,540 helicopter flight hours, with 7 hours in type. The flight instructor stated that although he was on or near the controls at all times, he had been confident in the other pilot's ability "to keep it safe." He also noted that the change of the helicopter’s nose attitude changed rapidly for the worse, and that he had little time to take over and complete a safe landing. ## Factual narrative On August 5, 2001, at 1655 eastern daylight time, a Robinson R22, N4066G, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during a practice autorotation at Long Island Mac Arthur Airport (ISP), Islip, New York. The certificated flight instructor and the private helicopter pilot under instruction were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was on file for the local flight, which originated at Islip. The instructional flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the flight instructor, the private pilot under instruction was practicing autorotations. He first completed 10 straight-in autorotations, then flew 5, 180-degree autorotations. As the helicopter approached the ground during the last practice autorotation, the flight instructor noted that its nose was too low. He took the helicopter's controls and tried to level it, and was able to bleed off some of the vertical and forward airspeed. However, the left skid touched down and dug into the turf, and the helicopter tumbled forward and came to rest on its side. The pilot under instruction had 1,540 helicopter flight hours, with 7 hours in the R22. The flight instructor stated that although he was on or near the controls at all times, he had been confident in the pilot under instruction's ability to "keep it safe." He also noted that prior to touchdown, the helicopter’s nose attitude "changed rapidly for the worse," and that he had little time to take over and complete a safe landing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4066G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4066G-2018-01-18), registration cancelled 2018-01-18, S/N 1505, built 1990 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Robinson R22 - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (registry code 7640110) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 1505 - Airframe hours: 4892 - Engines: Lycoming OH-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Atlantic Coast Helicopter, LTD - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 29, 2001, 30 hours before - Departed: ISP, Islip, NY - Airport: ISP, Long Island Mac Arthur ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 25; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review February 16, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 1,050 total, 930 in this make and model, 955 as pilot in command, 70 in the last 90 days, 70 in the last 30 days, 11 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 30; injuries: none; foreign, private; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 1,540 total, 7 in this make and model, 393 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: ISP ## 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 20010805022229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010805022229A), Aug 5, 2001: Robsin R22BETA, Islip, NY, No damage. (-23) At 1653 local time on August 5, 2000, aircraft collided with ground during auto rotations to the practice area at kisp (Islip macarthur airport). The… ## Other investigations on N4066G (1) 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 IAD99LA058](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD99LA058), Aug 15, 1999: Robinson R-22 (N4066G), Islip, NY, substantial damage. Probable cause: was the student pilot's improper control input and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action. 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.