# NTSB WPR13CA107: Robinson R22, N333PJ, Kona, HI, January 30, 2013

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: January 30, 2013, 12:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place: Kona, HI
- Coordinates: 19.630725, -155.99031 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=19.6307&lon=-155.9903&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: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 9, 2013
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 86113
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR13CA107
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86113/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86113
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA107

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate main rotor rpm during a practice autorotation and the flight instructor's delayed action, which resulted in a hard landing.

## 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)
- [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 35 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/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 practicing an autorotation when the main rotor rpm decayed. The flight instructor took control of the helicopter and attempted to correct the low main rotor rpm. However, the helicopter landed hard in a nose-high attitude, which resulted in structural damage to the tailboom. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot receiving instruction was practicing an autorotation when the main rotor rpm decayed. The flight instructor took control of the helicopter and attempted to correct the low main rotor rpm. However, the helicopter landed hard in a nose high attitude, which resulted in structural damage to the tailboom. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N333PJ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N333PJ), registered now, S/N 3804, 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: 3804
- Engines: Lycoming O-360 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Hawaii Pacific Aviation Inc.
- Registered owner: Hawaii Pacific Aviation Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: Kona, HI
- Destination: Kona, HI
- Flight plan: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 30; injuries: none; commercial, private, flight instructor; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2; seat: left; flight hours: 535 total, 480 in this make and model, 3 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours
- Student pilot; age 29; injuries: none; private; medical: class 2; seat: right; flight hours: 105 total, 104 in this make and model, 8 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 7,500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observed at: KHKO, 1 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 20130130000819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130130000819A), Jan 30, 2013: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, Kailua Kona, HI, Substantial damage. Pilots were practicing straight in autorotation landing and planned power recovery. Power was applied during flare to landing(engine throttle was advanced to…

## Other investigations on N333PJ (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 ANC24LA039](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC24LA039), May 30, 2024: Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta (N333PJ), Kailua-Kona, HI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor’s failure to implement the correct action for low rotor RPM recovery.

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 13, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86113. 449 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 389 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40388556&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Record of Conversation - FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 60 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40388557&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-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.

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