# NTSB WPR09CA118: Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta II, N588LE, Encinitas, CA, February 18, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 18, 2009, 08:05 local (16:05 UTC) - Place: Encinitas, CA - Coordinates: 33.024166, -117.282218 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0242&lon=-117.2822&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 12, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 73367 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09CA118 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73367/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73367 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA118 ## Probable cause A partial loss of engine power for an undetermined reason. Contributing to the accident was the soft terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Simulated/training event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 173 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md) - [Autorotation: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Autorotation: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 3,368 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 54 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot, who also operated the flight school that owned the helicopter, reported that he was giving a prospective flight instructor a pre-employment check ride. The flight instructor entered a practice autorotation from approximately 700 to 800 feet mean sea level to the beach at the ocean shoreline with the plan to perform a power recovery. When the flight instructor attempted to increase power, the power recovered to only approximately 70 percent. The pilot took the flight controls and performed an emergency autorotation to the sandy beach. The helicopter's forward motion was between 3 to 5 knots when it touched down. The pilot said the helicopter stopped suddenly due to the wet sand, causing the aircraft to rock forward and back. The backward motion permitted a main rotor blade to slice through and separate the tail boom. A post accident engine run was performed with no operational difficulties noted. ## Factual narrative The pilot/operator reported that he was giving a prospective flight instructor an employment checkout ride. The flight instructor entered a practice autorotation, from approximately 700 to 800 feet mean sea level, to the ocean shoreline (beach) with the plan to perform a power recovery. When the flight instructor attempted to increase power, the power recovered to only approximately 70 percent. The pilot took the flight controls and performed an emergency autorotation to the sandy beach. The helicopter's forward motion was between 3 to 5 knots when it touched down. The pilot said the wet sand was like "glue" and the helicopter stopped suddenly, causing the aircraft to "rock forward and back." The backward motion permitted a main rotor blade to slice through and separate the tail boom. A post accident engine run was performed with no operational difficulties noted. At the time of the accident, the temperature was 48 degrees Fahrenheit and the dew point was 43 degrees Fahrenheit. The carburetor icing curve chart placed the conditions in serious icing for cruise or climb power. The aircraft was equipped with a carburetor temperature gauge and the pilot reported that carburetor heat was on and the needle was below the yellow band. He reported that the time from power off to the attempted recovery was between approximately 15 to 20 seconds. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N588LE](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N588LE), registered now, S/N 3588, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Robinson Helicopter R22 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 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (registry code 41575, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 3588 - Airframe hours: 4530 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-2JA 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: DDG Management, LLC., doing business as Power Helicopters - Registered owner: Bank of Utah - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, February 2, 2009, 31 hours before - Departed: CRQ, Carlsbad, CA - Destination: CRQ, Carlsbad, CA - Flight plan: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Check pilot; age 39; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 7, 2008; seat: right; flight hours: 2,200 total, 410 in this make and model, 2,000 as pilot in command, 125 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 42; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 27, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 260 total, 260 in this make and model, 200 as pilot in command, 55 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.22 inHg - Observed at: CRG, 8 nm away ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 13, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73367. 1.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 925 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40310289&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 91 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377182&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 3, .PDF, 108 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40310290&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - City of Encinitas Marine Safety Department Report (item 4, .PDF, 161 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40310291&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=City%20of%20Encinitas%20Marine%20Safety%20Department%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Weight and Balance (item 5, .PDF, 130 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40310293&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weight%20and%20Balance%20-Redacted.PDF - Robinson Safety Notice SN-38 (item 6, .PDF, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40310294&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Robinson%20Safety%20Notice%20SN-38-Master.PDF 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.