# NTSB NYC99LA190: Robinson R-22A, N8561K, Shirley, NY, August 5, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 5, 1999, 17:45 local (21:45 UTC) - Place: Shirley, NY - Coordinates: 40.78981, -72.870506 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7898&lon=-72.8705&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 22, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 47040 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC99LA190 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47040/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99LA190 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain rotor RPM, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - rotor rpm - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) ## Analysis The instructor pilot was demonstrating a 180 degree autorotation to the student pilot. The CFI reported that the helicopter's main rotor RPM dropped immediately after initiation of the flare and the helicopter fell rapidly to the ground. The helicopter bounced, and came to rest upside down. The pilot did not report mechanical malfunctions of the airframe or engine. ## Factual narrative On August 5, 1999, about 1745 eastern daylight time, a Robinson R-22A, N8561K, was substantially damaged while landing at the Brookhaven Airport, Shirley, New York. The certificated flight instructor (CFI) sustained minor injuries, and the student pilot (SP) was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the local instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In a written statement, the CFI said he was demonstrating a 180 degree autorotation to the SP. He further stated: "...As I turned final I was at 40 knots and 90 percent RPM. I then lowered the collective to flat pitch before pushing forward on the cyclic to gain airspeed. At approximately 50 feet I started to flare. Loss of RPM occurred immediately after initiation of flare. Helicopter fell rapidly to [the] ground, bouncing once before coming to rest upside down." The helicopter impacted the ground, approximately 50 feet south of the approach end of runway 6. Examination of the helicopter by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector did not reveal any pre-impact malfunctions of the airframe or engine. The pilot reported 518 total hours of flight experience in rotorcraft. He also reported 505 total flight hours in the make and model of the accident helicopter; of which, 207 flight hours were as a CFI. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8561K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8561K-2000-11-29), registration cancelled 2000-11-29, S/N 0482 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Robinson R-22A - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R22 ALPHA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-alpha) (registry code 7640104) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 0482 - Airframe hours: 944 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 124 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Alpha Helicopter Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 1999, 70 hours before - Departed: HWV, NY - Airport: HWV, Brookhaven, runway 15, 4,200 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 656 total, 505 in this make and model, 490 as pilot in command, 58 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 8 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: ISP, 11 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19990805010839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990805010839A), Aug 5, 1999: Robsin R22ALPHA, Shirley, NY, Substantial damage. 1985 Roginson R-22 helicopter was demonstrating a 180 degree rotation when it experienced low RPM and landed hard from 50 feet AGL. (-23)at time and place of… 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.