# NTSB WPR09CA360: Robinson R22 Beta, N747ER, Jerome, AZ, July 21, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 21, 2009, 09:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place: Jerome, AZ
- Coordinates: 34.795833, -112.194999 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7958&lon=-112.1950&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Emergency descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/600) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Autorotation: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 19, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 74335
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09CA360
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74335/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74335
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA360

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate main rotor rpm's, and the certified flight instructor’s inadequate supervision of the flight.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: prop/rotor parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 182 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052/cases.md)
- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 200 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 96 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Autorotation: 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 was undergoing a stage check by a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) in preparation for the Commercial Practical flight test. The simulated emergency scenario of illumination of the low fuel light required the pilot to pick a spot and land promptly. He chose a flat area, and noted obstructions, including high power lines. About 300 feet above ground level (agl), he began to slow the helicopter, and check his gauges. The airspeed was about 50 knots, with the rate of descent between 400-500 feet per minute (fpm). He applied carburetor heat, and noted that the manifold pressure was below 18 inches. About 30-45 seconds later, the low rotor revolutions per minute (rpm) warning light illuminated along with the sounding of the corresponding warning horn. The pilot noted a very high vertical descent and he entered an autorotation by applying down collective and aft cyclic. The low rotor rpm horn and light extinguished. The CFI recalled that they were about 200 feet agl and 40-43 knots on final during the maneuver. He heard a noise reduction followed by the low rotor rpm horn and light. He lowered the collective and rolled on throttle. There were no immediate effects so he lowered the collective all the way, and applied aft cyclic aggressively. The rpm was 94-97 percent. With the aft cyclic, he was able to gain rpm, but little to no forward speed. The ground was approaching rapidly, and he pulled up on the collective. The helicopter fell straight down, hit hard, and rolled to the left; it sustained substantial damage. The instructor sustained serious injuries. The engine was operating, so the pilot turned off the ignition. He reported no mechanical irregularities prior to beginning the maneuver.

## Factual narrative

The pilot was undergoing a stage check by a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) in preparation for the Commercial Practical flight test. The simulated emergency scenario of illumination of the low fuel light required the pilot to pick a spot and land promptly. He chose a flat area, and noted obstructions, including high power lines. About 300 feet above ground level (agl), he began to slow the helicopter, and check his gauges. The airspeed was about 50 knots, with the rate of descent between 400-500 feet per minute (fpm). He applied carburetor heat, and noted that the manifold pressure was below 18 inches. About 30-45 seconds later, the low rotor revolutions per minute (rpm) warning light illuminated along with the sounding of the corresponding warning horn. The pilot noted a very high vertical descent and he entered an autorotation by applying down collective and aft cyclic. The low rotor rpm horn and light extinguished. The CFI recalled that they were about 200 feet agl and 40-43 knots on final during the maneuver. He heard a noise reduction followed by the low rotor rpm horn and light. He lowered the collective and rolled on throttle. There were no immediate effects so he lowered the collective all the way, and applied aft cyclic aggressively. The rpm was 94-97 percent. With the aft cyclic, he was able to gain rpm, but little to no forward speed. The ground was approaching rapidly, and he pulled up on the collective. The helicopter fell straight down, hit hard, and rolled to the left; it sustained substantial damage. The instructor sustained serious injuries. The engine was operating, so the pilot turned off the ignition. He reported no mechanical irregularities prior to beginning the maneuver.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N747ER](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N747ER-2011-10-26), registration cancelled 2011-10-26, S/N 3876, 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: 3876
- Airframe hours: 2899
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-J2A 131 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Guidance Helicopters, Inc.
- Registered owner: Guidance Helicopters, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 9, 2009, 25 hours before
- Departed: PRC, Prescott, AZ
- Destination: PRC, Prescott, AZ

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 36; injuries: serious; flight instructor, commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 14, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 1,074 total, 907 in this make and model, 984 as pilot in command, 248 in the last 90 days, 47 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours
- Student pilot; age 34; injuries: none; private; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 21, 2009; seat: right; flight hours: 229 total, 170 in this make and model, 123 as pilot in command, 36 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observed at: KPRC, 14 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 20090721018079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090721018079A), Jul 21, 2009: Robsin R22BETA, Jerome, AZ, Substantial damage. [privacy data omitted], Flight instructor, and [privacy data omitted], private pilot, were on a training flight in a Robinson R-22, N747ER. The flight…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 31, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74335. 2.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 714 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40317650&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- FAA Record of Conversation with Pilots (item 2, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40317652&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Record%20of%20Conversation%20with%20Pilots-Redacted.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.

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