# NTSB SEA07CA233: Robinson R-22 Beta II, N453SH, Tucson, AZ, August 13, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 13, 2007, 11:10 local (18:10 UTC) - Place: Tucson, AZ - Coordinates: 31.798889, -110.6025 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.7989&lon=-110.6025&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 31, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 66431 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA07CA233 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66431/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07CA233 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain rotor RPM during landing approach, and the delayed remedial action by the flight instructor. A contributing factor was the high density altitude weather condition. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - rotor rpm - low, dual student (cause) - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that he was on a cross-country training flight with a student. He said the student was performing an off airport landing where the elevation was 4,500 feet mean sea level (msl); the density altitude was reported to be 7,300 feet msl. The flight instructor said that as the helicopter approached the landing site, it began to yaw right, and the left pedal was ineffective. He took control of the aircraft, and noticed that the main rotor RPM was low. He lowered the collective slightly and rolled on additional throttle. The flight instructor said that the left pedal would still not turn the helicopter into the wind. He lowered the collective again, allowed the helicopter to settle, and then pulled collective to cushion the landing. The main rotor contacted the terrain and mesquite shrub. The aircraft came to rest on its left side, facing the direction from which it came, and the tail boom was separated from the fuselage. ## Factual narrative The flight instructor reported that he was on a cross-country training flight with a student. He said the student was performing an off airport landing where the elevation was 4,500 feet mean sea level (msl); the density altitude was reported to be 7,300 feet msl. The flight instructor said that as the helicopter approached the landing site, it began to yaw right, and the left pedal was ineffective. He took control of the aircraft, and noticed that the main rotor RPM was low. He lowered the collective slightly and rolled on additional throttle. The flight instructor said that the left pedal would still not turn the helicopter into the wind. He lowered the collective again, allowed the helicopter to settle, and then pulled collective to cushion the landing. The main rotor contacted the terrain and mesquite shrub. The aircraft came to rest on its left side, facing the direction from which it came, and the tail boom was separated from the fuselage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N453SH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N453SH-2013-04-15), registration cancelled 2013-04-15, S/N 4025, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Robinson R-22 Beta II - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (registry code 7640110) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-J2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-j2a) (registry code 42314, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 4025 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-J2A 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Silver State Helicopters - Registered owner: Shining Star Helicopters LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: TUS, Tucson, AZ - Destination: TUS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 37; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 301 total, 280 in this make and model, 56 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 30; injuries: none; student; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 72 total, 72 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.22 inHg - Observed at: FHU ## 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 20070813017499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070813017499A), Aug 13, 2007: Robsin R22BETA, Tucson, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) On 08/13/2007 at approximately 11:15 MST N453SH, a Robinson R-22 helicopter, piloted by the flight instructor [privacy data omitted] on an instructional… ## Other investigations on N453SH (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 LAX07CA090](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07CA090), Feb 19, 2007: Robinson R22 Beta (N453SH), Tucson, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the student pilot to maintain an adequate main rotor rpm and the instructor’s failure to maintain control of the aircraft. 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.