# NTSB WPR22LA359: Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta, N252SC, Mesa, AZ, September 26, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 26, 2022, 08:10 local (15:10 UTC) - Place: Mesa, AZ · These coordinates coincide with "4 nm North of FFZ" in pilot's report - Coordinates: 33.54, -111.71 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5400&lon=-111.7100&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: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 106015 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA359 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106015/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106015 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA359 ## Probable cause The flight instructor’s failure to maintain control of the helicopter’s rate of descent, resulting in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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) - [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/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 While conducting an instructional flight, the flight instructor reported that, he assumed control of the helicopter to demonstrate a left 180° autorotation, and the maneuver began normally. Part way through the maneuver, the pilot noticed that the helicopter was lower in altitude than he expected. He reported that he applied right cyclic and aft cyclic, attempting to slow the rate of descent. The helicopter landed hard and skidded to a stop. When stopped, the flight instructor and the student pilot exited the helicopter, and a postimpact fire ensued. The tail boom and fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N252SC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N252SC-2025-04-03), registration cancelled 2025-04-03, S/N 3893, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER 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: 3893 - Year built: 2005 - Airframe hours: 6257.6 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Sanbarcollbuscom, Inc, doing business as California Aeronautical University - Registered owner: November Alpha LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, September 14, 2022, 11.6 hours before - Departed: FFZ, Mesa, AZ - Airport: N/A - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 39; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2; last flight review August 29, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 918 total, 278 in this make and model, 788 as pilot in command, 67 in the last 90 days, 29 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 22; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 53.7 total, 53.7 in this make and model, 10.1 as pilot in command, 17.7 in the last 90 days, 3.1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: KFFZ, 4 nm away - METAR: KFFZ 261454Z 05005KT 10SM CLR 29/07 A2994 RMK AO2 SLP112 T02940067 51016= ## 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 20220926021519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220926021519A), Sep 26, 2022: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, Mesa, AZ, Destroyed. Instructor and student was performing practice autorotations at a field location approximately 5 miles north of the falcon field (ffz) airport. This location… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 30, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106015. 2.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14573146&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR22LA359_flat_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 687 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14576815&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR22LA359_Photo_508-Rel.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.