- Date
- October 29, 2010, 16:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place
- Prescott, AZ
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Emergency descent
- Aircraft
- N844SHRobinson Helicopter R22 Beta
- Defining event
- Autorotation: Hard landing
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 12, 2011
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20101029050659A
- Case key
- 77696
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.
The student pilot's failure to maintain the proper airspeed and the certificated flight instructor's inadequate supervision and delayed remedial action during a practice autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing and rollover.
Findings · 4
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings.
Analysis
A certificated flight instructor (CFI) and a student were practicing 180-degree autorotations. The CFI noted that, during the initial entry into the autorotation, the student pilot maintained proper rotor rpm and airspeed. About halfway through the 180-degree turn, the helicopter became nose-low and the airspeed increased. As the helicopter transitioned through about three-quarters of the turn, the CFI took authority of the helicopter's controls and attempted to correct the airspeed. The CFI stated that she was unable to correct and the helicopter touched down hard in an open dirt field. The helicopter subsequently rolled over and came to rest on its left side. Examination of the helicopter revealed that the tail boom was separated and the fuselage sustained structural damage. The CFI reported that no mechanical malfunctions existed during the practice autorotation and accident sequence.
Factual narrative
A certified flight instructor (CFI) and a student were practicing 180-degree autorotations. The instructor noted that during the initial entry into the autorotation, the student pilot maintained proper rotor rpm and airspeed. About halfway through the 180-degree turn, the helicopter "became nose low" and the airspeed increased. As the helicopter transitioned through about three-quarters of the turn, the instructor took control of the helicopter and attempted to correct the airspeed. The instructor stated that she was unable to correct and the helicopter touched down hard in an open dirt field. The helicopter subsequently rolled over and came to rest on its left side. Examination of the helicopter revealed that the tail boom was separated and the fuselage sustained structural damage. The flight instructor reported that no mechanical malfunctions existed during the practice autorotation and accident sequence.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N844SH
- Reported as
- Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 3824
- Airframe hours
- 2,953
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360 SERIES, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Guidance Helicopters
- Registered owner
- Guidance Helicopters
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · October 26, 2010 · 13 hours before
- Departed
- Prescott, AZ
- Destination
- Prescott, AZ
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Flight instructor
- Age
- 30
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 1, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- August 14, 2010
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,462 total · 1,123 in this make and model · 1,334 as pilot in command · 194 in the last 90 days · 55 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Student pilot
- Age
- 27
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 43 total · 43 in this make and model · 19 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 210° at 11 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 73 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.15 inHg
- Observed at
- PRC, 7 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 22, 2010, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 338 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N844SH · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.