# NTSB WPR15CA043: Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta, N32VH, Prescott, AZ, November 15, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 15, 2014, 16:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Prescott, AZ - Coordinates: 34.538333, -112.46833 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5383&lon=-112.4683&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: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report June 1, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 90393 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR15CA043 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90393/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90393 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15CA043 ## Probable cause The certified flight instructor's failure to maintain helicopter control during the autorotation which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent roll over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check 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 During an instructional flight, the certified flight instructor (CFI) was demonstrating a 180-degree autorotation for a pilot rated student. The CFI positioned the helicopter on a downwind, abeam the landing site, about 800 feet above ground and at about 70 knots when he started a right turning autorotation. After turning about 80 degrees the pilot rated student told the CFI that it appeared they were going to land short on the approach. The CFI increased the helicopter's turn rate; however, near the end of the turn, he noticed the rotor RPM was starting to decay and he applied down collective. As the helicopter was rolling out of the turn, it appeared that the helicopter was descending faster than moving forward. The CFI began the cyclic flare to reduce the descent; however, the helicopter impacted the ground hard and rolled onto its left side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tailboom and fuselage structure. The CFI reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operations. ## Factual narrative During an instructional flight, the certified flight instructor (CFI) was demonstrating a 180-degree autorotation for a pilot rated student. The CFI positioned the helicopter on a downwind, abeam the landing site, about 800 feet above ground and at about 70 knots when he started a right turning autorotation. After turning about 80 degrees the pilot rated student told the CFI that it appeared they were going to land short on the approach. The CFI increased the helicopter's turn rate; however, near the end of the turn, he noticed the rotor RPM was starting to decay and he applied down collective. As the helicopter was rolling out of the turn, it appeared that the helicopter was descending faster than moving forward. The CFI began the cyclic flare to reduce the descent; however, the helicopter impacted the ground hard and rolled onto its left side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tailboom and fuselage structure. The CFI reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N32VH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N32VH-2022-01-08), registration cancelled 2022-01-08, S/N 3930, built 2005 (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: 3930 - Year built: 2005 - Airframe hours: 1085 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360 SERIES reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Guidance Academy, LLC, doing business as Guidance Aviation - Registered owner: Zions Credit Corp - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 31, 2014, 57 hours before - Departed: PRC, Prescott, AZ - Destination: PRC, Prescott, AZ - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 30; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 28, 2014; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 1,382 total, 702 in this make and model, 1,333 as pilot in command, 238 in the last 90 days, 88 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 29; injuries: minor; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 5, 2014; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 218 total, 91 in this make and model, 163 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 21 knots, gusting 24 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: PRC, 8 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 20141115022579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20141115022579A), Nov 15, 2014: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, Prescott, AZ, Destroyed. Pilot a was acting as CFI to 'student' pilot b. pilot b is training for CFI. Pilot a took control of the aircraft at approximately 800 feet AGL to demonstrate… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 18, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90393. 3.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40426591&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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. --- 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.