# NTSB SEA05CA182: Robinson R22 Beta, N845SH, Boise, ID, August 27, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 27, 2005, 14:45 local (20:45 UTC) - Place: Boise, ID - Coordinates: 43.564445, -116.222778 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5644&lon=-116.2228&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 62347 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA05CA182 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62347/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA05CA182 ## Probable cause Inadequate communications between the certified flight instructor and student pilot, and the student pilot's delay in relinquishing controls resulting in a hard landing during a practice autorotation. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, maneuvering - communications - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) - relinquishing of control - delayed, dual student (cause) ## Analysis The instructor pilot reported that he and the student pilot were practicing power recovery autorotations at the Boise airport. During the tenth practice autorotation, with the student pilot on the controls, the instructor noted a lower than normal main rotor RPM (approximately 94 percent) and elected to take the controls in an effort to make the necessary inputs to recover from the maneuver. The instructor pilot reported that during the transition (approximately 60 feet agl), there was a "struggle" for the controls and corrective action was delayed resulting in a hard landing and substantial damage to the helicopter. The instructor pilot stated that he does not recall verbalizing the transfer of control to the student pilot. ## Factual narrative On August 27, 2005, about 1445 mountain daylight time, a Robinson R22 Beta helicopter, N3825, sustained substantial damage subsequent to a hard landing following a practice autorotation at the Boise Air Terminal, Boise, Idaho. The helicopter is owned by Silver State Helicopters of North Las Vegas, and was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) instructional flight under Title 14 CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The certified flight instructor, and student pilot receiving helicopter training, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local instructional flight. The flight originated from Boise, Idaho, approximately one hour prior to the accident. In a written statement dated August 27, 2005, and subsequent telephone conversation with the NTSB IIC, the instructor pilot reported he and the student pilot were practicing power recovery autorotations at the Boise airport. During the tenth practice autorotation, with the student pilot on the controls, the instructor noted a lower than normal main rotor RPM (approximately 94 percent) and elected to take the controls in an effort to make the necessary inputs to recover from the maneuver. The instructor pilot reported that during the transition (approximately 60 feet agl), there was a "struggle" for the controls and corrective action was delayed resulting in a hard landing and substantial damage to the helicopter. The instructor pilot stated that he does not recall verbalizing the transfer of control to the student pilot. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N845SH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N845SH), registered now, S/N 3825, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Robinson R22 Beta - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (registry code 7640110) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (registry code 41575, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 3825 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-J2A reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Silver State Helicopters, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: BOI, BOISE, ID - Destination: BOI, Boise, ID - Airport: BOI, Boise Air Terminal /Gowen Fld/, runway 27 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2; flight hours: 506 total, 444 in this make and model - Student pilot; age 36; student; medical: class 2 ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20050827018609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050827018609A), Aug 27, 2005: Robsin R22BETA, Boise, ID, Substantial damage. (-23) During student training in autorotation manuevers the student let the RPM go low during the approach. The instructor attempted to correct the situation… 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.